A SENIOR official of Jubail Commercial Port (JCP) has highlighted progress at the port and ongoing projects but says greater financial and administrative independence will help it achieve more progress.

Capt Fahed Ahmed Amer, general manager of  JCP, was speaking at a meeting of the Eastern Province’s chamber of commerce and industry where he was a guest.

“If the Saudi Ports Authority gave ports financial and administrative independence, it would lead to a big leap in ports development,” he said.

“It would also encourage competition with other ports in the world, especially in Asia. (JCP) is undergoing continuous development and our target is to dedicate all efforts to make it the main gateway for Saudi exports to international markets.”

JCP recorded in 2012 a 47 per cent increase in the number of containers handled. Slots at the port have been leased to companies including prominent ones such as Sabic, Chevron and Sipchem. The port currently supervises the Jubail fishing harbour and there are some developments in the process of serving the fisheries sector,” Amer said. He highlighted a project to provide a separate route for trucks between the port and the industrial zone. The fisheries and road projects are being implemented by the Royal Commission. He also spoke of a railway project linking the port with the industrial zone and which is nearing completion.

A giant logistics project undertaken by Sabic will make JCP the main exporting gateway in the kingdom for petrochemical products, he said.