‘Sea Bridge’ revives export activity

One month after the launch of the government subsidized ‘sea bridge’ system to transport Lebanese agricultural and industrial products to the GCC countries and Jordan, the export activity has seen a big leap, notwithstanding the need for additional container vessels to cope with the increasing demand on local goods, Al Mustaqbal daily reported yesterday. In this respect, the chief of the Investment Development Authority of Lebanon (IDAL), Nabil Itani, told the newspaper that the export bustle has “regained its momentum recorded in previous years,” adding that most of the exported items are agricultural, with 90% headed to the Saudi Port of Dabba, and 10% to Aqaba in Jordan. Itani pointed out that while the number of truck-loaded ships  “has risen from one to three carriers, there is a need for two more to handle the rising demand on the services provided as per the ‘sea bridge’ settlement”. (Al Mustaqbal, November 4, 2015)