The Director of Hamad Port Abdul Aziz Nasser Al Yafei has announced the inauguration of two new shipping routes linking the Hamad Port to the Southeast Asia ports (Shanghai), while the other connects the port to the ports of the countries of the Mediterranean basin, and each will take one trip a week during 21 days.

Speaking at a press conference today Al Yafei expects that Hamad Port to receive more than 1,000 vessels by the end of this year and about one million TEUs in the same period. He pointed out that the new route inaugurated today is the second direct link between Shanghai and Doha.

He said that the new lines are an important addition to enhance the work of the port and its competitiveness, noting that there are other shipping lines will be announced during the coming period.

He added that the Hamad Port aims to complete the work of existing ports in the country and represents an important addition to the system of regional and global ports, especially as most of the ports of the region reached their capacity, noting that work is underway to make Hamad Port a major point of bringing re-export to the ports of the region.

Al Yafei said that the new lines will achieve economic gains for the country, especially as the Republic of China is the largest source of goods to all countries of the world, adding that the direct lines with China will increase the volume of exports destined to the State of Qatar, which includes all types of goods and products. He stressed the Port’s commitment to providing all facilities available to companies, adding that the Port is ready to receive all types of shipments from different regions of the world.

He pointed out that Hamad Port began to reap the economic gains since the start of its work, where it had launched about 15 direct lines so far, that contribute to reducing the cost and shorten the time, which is in the interest of importers whose goods have arrived directly from the ports of origin to Hamad Port without the need for intermediate ports, pointing to the characteristic of shipping from the provision of cost to importers.

He said Hamad Port, which includes three major container terminals with a capacity of 7.5 million TEUs per year, will play a major role in covering domestic needs of goods as well as contributing to the needs of all countries in the region.

Part of the Port’s strategy is to acquire 35 per cent of the total Middle East trade next year and is rapidly following up on this road driven by its strategic location and potential as well as the facilities it provides to companies, Al Yafei noted . (QNA)

Source: Fana News