Egypt, Iraq, Jordan working on final plan to start operations on 1st-ever Arab Trade Line

Egypt, Iraq, and Jordan are putting the final touches to start operations on the first stage of the Arab Trade Line, the first-ever shipping/logistics line connecting several countries from the Arab Gulf to Egypt on the way to European and American ports, Ahram Online reports.

Work is underway to build the Taba–Arish trade/logistics railway corridor, one of seven international developmental logistics corridors in the project, which will connect the ports of Nuweiba and Taba on the Gulf of Aqaba to the port of Arish on the Mediterranean, the Egyptian Ministry of Transport indicated in a statement.

The project, via land, sea, and railways, involves linking the ports of Aqaba, Jordan, and Nuweiba, Egypt on the Gulf of Aqaba. The plan includes linking these ports via land through the Sinai to the ports of Arish, East Port Said, and on to other Mediterranean ports in Egypt (Damietta, Abu Qir, Alexandria, and Borg El-Arab).

Egypt is currently implementing the second phase of the Arab Logistics Trade Line by constructing a railway line from Taba/Arish/Bir El-Abd/El-Ferdan. This includes a total length of 500 kilometers to accommodate the targeted cargo volume from the Arab Gulf, Iraq, and Jordan to Europe and America.

The third phase of the initiative involves shipping to European and American ports. The Egyptian Transport ministry in the statement also stressed that a strategic partnership with the Arab Bridge Maritime Company and in coordination with the Jordanian and Iraqi counterparts, devised an executive plan for maritime freight and passenger transport along the Arab Trade Line.