Syria raises transit fees, impasse of banana exports to ease

After the reported progress in reopening of Nassib Crossing, (https://goo.gl/ce1PMg), the Lebanese minister of agriculture, Ghazi Zeiater, revealed to An Nahar that Lebanon conveyed to the Syrian side, during recent meetings, its wish to speed up the process, pointing out that the decision largely depends on the outcome of the Jordanian Syrian talks. As to the decision by the Syrian ministry of transportation to increase the transit fees for the empty and loaded Syrian, Arab and foreign trailers crossing the Syrian territory, Zeiater clarified that Lebanon has not yet been officially notified of the said decision. To note, the Syrian transportation ministry recently described the decision to raise the transit fees as “strategic and essential” as it will ensure sustained competition with neighboring sea ports and higher profitability and revenues. For his part, the head of the Beqaa Farmers Association, Ibrahim Tarshishi, considered that such decision would have no impact on Lebanon because the Syrian conflict has led to the closure of most of the border crossings preventing trucks coming from Lebanon to enter Syria or other Arab countries via Syrian territory. On the problem of banana exports to Syria, and the promises by Zeiater to resolve the problem, the minister disclosed that meetings will be held at end of September between all concerned parties to discuss the matter and agree mechanisms for resuming exports. (Al Diyar, An Nahar, September 20, 2018)

Previous related news:
Progress towards reopening of vital Nassib trade crossing
Minister Zeiater promises to restore banana exports to Syria