Following the final withdrawal of the Dubai Ports Authority (DPA) from a $225 million container terminal project at the Beirut Port, the Beirut Chamber of International Navigation has issued a statement urging the Lebanese government to resolve the issue, reported the Gulf News.
The chamber added that it regretted the pullout because of the damage to Beirut's reputation, and to Lebanon’s marine transport industry.
Fearing the project would be put on ice, the chamber also urged the government to sanction the port development project and assign the original Lebanese administration for it, since the current results of the privatization plan were "discouraging."
The DPA contract to equip and operate the new terminal was signed in October 1998 and covered a 20-year period. The Port of Beirut invested more than $100 million in constructing the new terminal, but DPA did not supply the equipment for which it was contracted.
The terminal was due to start operating in September 2000. No official explanation has been given for the delay. — (Mena Report)
© 2001 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
