Amman — The Arab Freight Forwarders Alliance (UFA) stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation and integration among freight forwarding and logistics companies and agents across Arab countries, with the aim of building an interconnected Arab network capable of addressing the rapidly evolving challenges facing transportation and supply chains.
The alliance said such cooperation would also help Arab companies access new markets and establish partnerships with reliable counterparts.
During the first conference of the Arab Freight Forwarders Alliance, held in Amman on Wednesday with the participation of around 100 freight and logistics companies representing 18 Arab countries, the alliance emphasized the need to develop Arab supply chains and improve their efficiency and resilience amid rapid changes in global transportation and trade.
The alliance said stronger links among the various components of the freight and logistics system, along with an expanded network of partnerships among Arab companies, would improve the flow of trade, reduce costs and strengthen the sector’s ability to respond to changing conditions.
The conference program includes sessions addressing Jordan’s Economic Modernization Vision and its role in strengthening the Kingdom’s position as a logistics hub, the future of Arab supply chains from challenges to opportunities, the role of Arab women in the logistics sector, and bilateral meetings aimed at strengthening cooperation and partnerships among Arab companies.
The conference, opened on behalf of the ministers of labor and transport by Jordan Maritime Authority Director General Ahmad Al-Assasleh, also saw the launch of the first Jordanian-Arab platform aimed at promoting cooperation and partnerships among companies and institutions operating in freight forwarding, customs clearance and logistics services in Jordan and the wider Arab region.
UFA seeks to build a strong and effective Arab network that enables member companies to access new markets and opportunities while strengthening cooperation among them and contributing to a more integrated future for the Arab logistics sector.
Al-Assasleh: Aqaba Port a Key Trade and Supply Chain Hub
Al-Assasleh said maritime transport no longer operates separately from the broader transportation system. Ports, freight forwarders, shipping lines, logistics zones, land transport operators and regulatory authorities are all interconnected links in a single chain, with developments in one link directly affecting the efficiency of the entire system.
He said Jordan views Aqaba Port as the Kingdom’s maritime gateway and an important hub for trade and supply chains. The country is working to enhance the sector’s competitiveness and develop its business environment in line with regional and international developments in transportation and logistics.
The Jordan Maritime Authority, he added, performs its regulatory and supervisory role in the maritime sector while focusing on service development, digital transformation, improving procedural efficiency, and strengthening maritime safety and security in line with international requirements and standards.
Al-Rumhi: UFA a Bridge Connecting Arab Markets to the World
UFA founder and chairman Awda Al-Rumhi said the alliance was established as an Arab platform bringing together expertise and capabilities in freight and logistics and turning relationships among companies and agents into genuine business opportunities, strengthening the presence of Arab companies in global markets.
“The idea behind establishing the alliance emerged from the reality that freight companies and agents were operating separately despite having expertise, relationships and capabilities,” he said. “This prompted the question of whether they could come together under a single entity capable of building a strong and interconnected Arab network.”
He said UFA was founded on the idea that an Arab freight agent should not always have to seek a place within global networks, but should instead be able to participate in building its own network and shaping its future.
Al-Rumhi said the alliance’s real value lies not in its name, logo or platform, but in the people and companies that believe in the concept and choose cooperation and partnership. He stressed that UFA’s success would depend on its ability to build trust and turn cooperation among its members into tangible business results.
He said the freight and logistics sector faces rapidly changing challenges as transportation routes, ports and markets evolve amid crises, wars, the closure of trade corridors and supply chain disruptions. These developments, he added, make reliable networks, genuine partnerships and collective action increasingly important.
Al-Rumhi said UFA’s ambition extends beyond being a list of companies to becoming a community of decision-makers, a network of opportunities and a bridge connecting Arab markets with the world, turning Arab cooperation into genuine economic value.
He said the goal is to build an interconnected Arab logistics force capable of competing and expanding, creating new opportunities and enabling Arab companies to reach global markets.
He added that the alliance’s real success would be measured by its ability to help smaller companies enter new markets, enable Arab freight agents to find reliable partners in countries where they need to operate, and turn relationships among members into actual business, contributing to more efficient and trusted Arab trade.
Al-Rumhi said UFA seeks to build a lasting legacy that goes beyond the success of individual companies by establishing a strong Arab network, deeper relationships and an open path for Arab companies toward global markets.
Murad: Genuine Regional Cooperation Needed in Logistics
Senator Issa Murad, chairman of the Senate Committee on Labor and Social Development, said the initiative represents an important step toward strengthening cooperation and integration among the various components of the transportation, freight and logistics sectors in Jordan and the region.
“Current conditions have directly affected freight movement and supply chains and demonstrated the need to develop an integrated transportation system capable of dealing with various challenges, whether in maritime, land or air freight,” Murad said.
He noted that importers and traders currently deal with numerous freight companies across different markets and countries, underscoring the importance of creating an integrated system linking the various stages of the supply chain and providing more efficient and flexible options for trade.
Murad said developments in global transportation and trade, along with the emergence of new trade and logistics corridors, require countries and companies to move toward a more advanced level of cooperation and coordination to strengthen the region’s position on the global trade map.
He praised the efforts of Jordanian institutions involved in the transportation sector, particularly the Ministry of Transport, the Customs Department, the Syndicate of Clearance and Cargo Transport Companies and the Jordan Shipping Association, in addressing challenges facing trade and freight movement.
He said the continued efficient operation of these institutions is essential to ensuring the smooth movement of goods and strengthening the competitiveness of the national economy.
Logistics alliances, he added, can improve supply chains, reduce shipping costs, increase operational efficiency and improve delivery times, benefiting trade and the wider economy.
Abu Al-Saadat: Creating Access to New Markets
UFA Deputy Chairman Dr. Tamer Abu Al-Saadat said the establishment of the alliance was the result of an idea that began as a dream before developing into a project and an entity bringing together freight companies and agents from different Arab countries and markets.
He stressed that the real challenge begins now, with the task of turning the partnership into opportunities, business and added value for alliance members.
Abu Al-Saadat said the alliance seeks to strengthen Arab cooperation in freight and logistics, transform that cooperation into an economic force capable of opening new horizons for member companies, and become a genuine bridge connecting Arab businesses with the global market.
He added that UFA aims to turn differences between markets and countries into a source of strength and a foundation for multiple opportunities.
Source: Al Ghad
