The Jordanian government has decided that it will no longer levy fees on Kuwaiti merchandise trucks entering the country. The initiative will go into effect provided that the Kuwaiti government will reciprocate, lifting the tariffs it recently imposed on Jordanian trucks entering the Emirate, reported the Jordanian Ministry of Transportation.
The two countries have been negotiating a transport cooperation accord since March and are expected to finalize an agreement by next week. The Jordanian Ministry of Transportation stated that it has been waiting for Kuwaiti authorities to reply to its request to replace the single entry visa required from Jordanian truck drivers before entering Kuwait to a multiple-entry certificate.
Approximately 24,000 Kuwaiti trucks enter Jordan every year while 6,000-7,000 trucks from Jordan enter Kuwait. The most debated item contained in the bi-lateral agreement is exempting the trucks, the drivers and their assistants as well as their personal luggage
from all taxes and fees when entering the land of either country.
Jordanian exports to Kuwait increased by 21 percent in the first five months of 2002, reaching 9.8 million Jordanian dinars compared to Dh 8.1 million during the same period last year. With the balance of trade in Jordan’s favor, the Kingdom’s imports from Kuwait decreased by 7.5 percent, reaching five million Jordanian dinars compared to JD 5.4 million last year. — (menareport.com)
© 2002 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
