The Beirut Chamber of International Navigation is urging the Lebanese government to resolve the Beirut Port issue, in the wake of the Dubai Ports Authority (DPA)'s decision to abandon the container terminal project, reported the Gulf News.
DPA's withdrawal from the project was discussed during the chamber's administrative authority meeting in Beirut a few days ago.
The authority's withdrawal is now final, said the paper, adding that the chamber regretted the pullout because it damaged Beirut's reputation in general and the port in particular. DPA's decision also affected the welfare of the Lebanese marine transport industry and shocked international navigation firms, it added.
The global firms asked their Beirut agents to update them on project developments and on the expected launch of the container terminal's operations.
The Lebanese government, the chamber added, should activate the role of Beirut Port because the $150 million container terminal project should not remain paralyzed. Several neighboring ports are fully equipped and qualified to serve clients and offer them the best services, they said.
The chamber also urged the government to sanction the port development project and assign the original Lebanese administration for it, since the current results of the privatization plan were "discouraging." – Albawaba.com
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