Delegates at the Second Saudi Marine Forum here believe that development of the country's ports, in particular the Jeddah Islamic Port, can boost economic growth. Sunil Joseph, Managing Director of Maersk Line Saudi Arabia, one of the world's largest shipping companies in the world, said he was optimistic about growth in the sector. “The vision of the port authority leadership will be achieved and the Maersk Line is looking forward to assist in this challenging period,” said Joseph. He said he expects much more business this year than last year. He said economic development is dependent on the maritime industry which is playing a positive role by supporting trade and commerce. “At a time when the Saudi Arabian economy is poised to make a mark on the global economic map, the maritime forum can generate greater momentum and create further value.” He said that the Jeddah port is “ideally located” on the trade route between West and the East, and that with its current expansion plans can see a surge in container traffic. Joseph said that areas that need to be focused on include port capacity, operational excellence, transportation capacity and equipment availability. He added that it was also important to simplify customs and other documentation processes. He added that the Saudi Landbridge rail project will reduce transportation by as much as a week between Jeddah and other parts of the Kingdom, Europe and North America. Amir Ali Raza the CEO of Red Sea Gateway terminal said that the new terminal will have more capacity and facilities. “We are already operating but by the middle of this year we will be fully operational,” he said. He said Saudi Arabia has moved up fairly quickly from the 62nd position to the 13th place globally in creating a good business environment as per a World Bank survey.
