Arab Mashreq-Maghreb maritime line on quick path to implementation

A group of experts from Morocco, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt who have been meeting in Damascus this July 28-31 entrusted to Morocco the feasibility study of the Arab "Mashreq-Maghreb" maritime line project.

The experts opted unanimously for Morocco which will complete the study before October 2002.

Three maritime link possibilities will be explored: the first one links Casablanca, Alexandria, Beirut, Latakia and Akaba, the second would also service Algiers, Tunis and Tripoli while the third possibility extends the line further to the ports of Jeddah, Dubai, Bahrain and Oum El Kasr.

The decision, meant to activate inter-Arab trade exchanges, was adopted by Moroccan, Syrian and Jordanian ministers of transports and merchant navy who signed in November 2001 a memorandum of understanding.

Morocco was represented by head of the merchant navy department at the transports ministry.

The experts decided to invite Arab maritime transport companies and private companies to take part in the coming meetings.