Within the framework of Egyptian government keenness to increase exports’ volume to European countries and supporting national economy, transport ministry has announced in a statement its invitation to Egyptian Industries Union, Chamber of Commerce Union, head of Exporting Councils, importers and exporters and businessmen to benefit from the big privileges provided by the navigational line “Ro-Ro” linking between Damietta and Italian Terista port.
The line, whose first journey was launched 28 November, participates in transporting agricultural crops and Egyptian products by using dry and refrigerated trucks; achieving a reduce in shipping cost and time of cargo arrival, as the project will participate in arrival of Egyptian fresh crops to Italy within about 5 hours and will participate in increasing Egyptian exports’ volume, and besides the low shipping cost compared with airports it will provide with foreign currency and enhance Egypt status being a logistic center between Europe and Africa, besides providing with more than 2000 job opportunity for Egyptian drivers and job opportunities whether direct or indirect with transport and shipping companies and navigation agents.
The statement has declared the line enjoys principle or reciprocity with regards to port fees and operation incentives; where there was a fee reduce from 26.050dollars to 3.250 dollar per voyage; with a reduce percentage of 88%, with allocation of an area for Customs inspection, besides developing “X Ray” platform 35 thousand m2 for the project, and providing with comprehensive electronic system linking Damietta port with the Italian port to exchange Customs’ data and official documents.
The statement has also pointed out the project’s attaining European Union grant for Customs twinning between Egypt and Italy, and approval of electronic locks for refrigerated containers’ with the alarm feature, in case of change in any conditions or opening of a container. Also Egypt join to Vienna convention 1968 and signing a land transport governmental MOU for solving problems of metal panels and facilitating land vehicles traffic between the two countries.
Worth noting that Ro-Ro line weekly time schedule will start by arrival of vessel to Damietta port on Thursday 3pm and will departure Triesta port Friday morning; so as to reach Triesta Monday morning, and from which Egyptian products will be transported by the cargo train to Rotterdam and from it to Holland, England and Belgium.