Arab Transport Ministers: Enhance coordination, information and experience sharing, and raise port readiness to handle various challenges
Noura Al-Mashaan chaired the Kuwaiti delegation at the meeting of Arab Transport Ministers in Egypt to discuss challenges and enhance port readiness.
Translated by Qiyas from الأنباء — Original source
Minister of Public Works Dr. Noura Al-Mashaan chaired the Kuwaiti delegation participating in the 75th session of the Executive Office of the Arab Ministers of Transport, which launched at the headquarters of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport in Alexandria, under the presidency of Egypt and with the attendance of transport ministers and representatives of the member states of the Executive Office and specialized Arab organizations.
In his opening speech, Egyptian Minister of Transport and Chairman of the Executive Office, General Kamal al-Wazir, expressed gratitude to Minister of Public Works and Chair of the current session of the Arab Ministers of Transport, Dr. Noura Al-Mashaan.
The minister stated that emerging geopolitical risks arising from conflicts and challenges facing the region have created further complexities in transport movement and management, hindering supply chains worldwide.
In this regard, he pointed to the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian war, the Israeli aggression on Gaza that resulted in 70,000 martyrs and more than 170,000 injured, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz due to the Iranian war, the Houthi aggression on the territory of the fraternal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and their threats to navigation in the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
He added that this has led to instability in global supply chains, with major shipping lines adopting alternative routes that have increased voyage duration, raised operational costs, caused port congestion and delays in cargo delivery, as well as increased carbon emissions harmful to the environment.
The minister emphasized that these challenges require collective effort locally and internationally to overcome unconventional circumstances that have repercussions on human life and all aspects of economic and social life, including rising living costs not only in the region but also across the world’s countries and the international economy as a whole.
He said, “Here we are, meeting under these circumstances to work on enhancing cooperation and interconnection among our peoples and countries to mitigate their impacts. Our meeting today serves to strengthen our distinguished relations and reaffirm our shared will to enhance Arab cooperation and coordination in various transport sectors, building on our commonalities and mutual interests to achieve our peoples’ aspirations for further growth and progress, given the vital importance of transport across all its sectors to the economic and social development of our countries.”
He noted that regional and international developments have proven that addressing these challenges requires strengthening Arab coordination, exchanging information and expertise, enhancing port readiness and transport partnerships, studying available operational alternatives, and supporting efforts to ensure the safety of maritime navigation and freedom of safe passage in accordance with international law rules.
He clarified that the Executive Office’s agenda for this session includes several important topics reflecting a collective commitment to enhancing Arab economic and logistical solidarity, foremost among them supporting the Palestinian economy and implementing the strategic plan for sectoral development in Al-Quds Al-Sharif (Jerusalem), as well as discussing Arab agreements to regulate the transport of passengers and goods via land routes between Arab countries.
He added that the agenda also includes important items related to developing the electronic portal for land transport, enhancing road safety, developing rail transport, digital transformation in the transport sector, energy transition, reducing carbon emissions, as well as the draft agreement to regulate maritime transport procedures for passengers and goods between Arab countries, developing river transport in Sudan and enhancing its logistics zones, preparing a comprehensive Arab agreement for maritime cooperation, and enhancing maritime and logistical diplomacy to support the resilience of corridors, supply chains, and the region’s standing.
Arab geopolitics. Meanwhile, the Kuwaiti delegation, led by Minister Al-Mushaan, included our Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States, Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi, and the Director General of the General Administration of Road Engineering Affairs, Eng. Khaled Al-Asimi.
