Land export via Syria unlikely in the near future

While the director general of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture for Zahleh and Beqaa, Youssef Jeha, stated that land export through the Syrian-Jordanian and Syrian-Iraqi crossings will be resumed within 10 days after removal of all obstacles, the vice president of the Lebanese Industrialists Association (LIA), Ziad Bekdash, told Al Markaziya news portal that exporting through the Syrian borders cannot be resumed until after the Syrian Authorities declare so. Moreover, Bekdash said, insurance companies still refuse to cover exported goods amidst a fragile security, adding that it is unlikely for land export activity to pick up soon. Bekdash maintained that despite the renewal of the IDAL-backed maritime bridge, the transport/export costs remain relatively high and uncompetitive. The cost of road transport has exceeded USD 6 thousand compared to USD 3,000 to USD 4,000 in the past, LIA deputy chief noted, warning that national industry continues to suffer with the drastic decline in export activity.  (Al Diyar, Al Mustaqbal, June 20, 2017)

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