Cabinet drops support to export costs while truckers protest

During its meeting of yesterday, the Lebanese Government walked out on  the file of subsidizing the cost of transport of Lebanese products which used to be exported by land to Jordan, Iraq and Arab Gulf states. Dumping of the file which was proposed from outside Cabinet agenda by Minister of Agriculture Akram Chehayeb prompted owners and drivers of trucks to stage a sit in yesterday in Shtura where they blocked the road with their vehicles for some time. Truckers wanted to communicate their demands to concerned authorities almost two months after the closure of Syrian-Jordan crossing.

 

Chehayeb disclosed that he had made concrete financial proposal to the cabinet in order kick off the export of agricultural and industrial goods from Lebanon to the port of Aqaba and then Gulf, estimating that some USD 21 million in total subsidy are needed during a period of 7 months. This estimated figure is the result of studies carried out jointly by the ministries of agriculture, industry and public works and transport. Chehayeb confirmed that his “proposal is vital for the survival of the industrial and agricultural sectors, and warned of serious losses in current markets which were nurtured over long years.

 

For his part, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Zahleh and Beqaa, Edmond Jeraysati, voiced fears over the magnitude of losses in harvests that will be recorded this year if no comprehensive solution to the present sea export crisis is found. He noted that Beqaa farmers are presently preparing to reap thousands of tons in harvest. On a somewhat different note, President of the International Chamber of Navigation in Beirut, Elie Zakhur noted that the problem of industrial products once shipped by land route is now totally resolved. He added: “The container terminal in the Port of Beirut has saved the national economy. Various international shipping lines are serving Lebanon from all over the globe. Today ships connect Lebanon us with Arab countries by sea route in 3 to 4 days only.” However, he noted that one single remaining problem relates to truck owners, who still are waiting for government’s decision concerning ro-ro vessels.

 

(Source: Al Diyar, June 3-5, Al Mustaqbal, An Nahar, As Safir, Daily Star, June 5, 2015)