Being a multi-modal transportation hub; transport & logistics projects are a vital aspect of the Master Plan for the development of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone (ASEZ), where remarkable achievements are materialized in both public and private sectors. Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) successfully implemented numerous projects, therewith developing the port and logistics community in Aqaba, Jordan. Today, the Aqaba Ports Community offers 12 specialized terminals 30 berths, 2 harbors, and 6 operators including marine services and an international open sky airport. Furthermore, ADC established an air cargo terminal, world class logistics facilities, a customs yard, truck marshaling yards, and X-ray scanning platforms to enhance the logistics of supply chain and other complementary port activities.

ADC is the landlord of Aqaba Ports Community, mandated by the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) through a main development agreement with the goal to develop and improve the efficiency, capacity, and the operational performance of all terminals.

Currently the ADC is implementing a comprehensive long-term master plan to develop all port terminals and put into motion expansion programmes during which ADC will have successfully implemented projects with the private sectors (PPP) on a BOT (build-operate-transfer) basis in both the transportation and logistics sectors. Implementing the master plan is essential to ensure that the Aqaba Ports Community has an upgraded level of management & operations in line with international best practices, has the capacity ahead of demand that can respond to increases in cargo volume, therewith securing the kingdom’s external trade and cargo flow, enhancing the socio-economic dimension and attracting potential transit cargo to neighboring countries.

The ports are distributed in three different locations; the cruise ship terminal on the north coast, and the middle and south ports consisting of 28 operational specialized berths handling a wide variety of goods (containers, liquid bulk, dry bulk and break bulk) operated by specialized operators as below:

Aqaba Development Corporation (ADC) signed a partnership agreement with the Escola Europea – Intermodal Transport to participate in the Youth Employment in Ports of the Mediterranean (YEP MED) project. ADC represents the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan as a partner in a project that encompasses 6 countries, and is also a part of the EU programmes. Its main objective is to expand suitable employment opportunities and ensure that future generations will be empowered to fully participate in society.

The project aspires to develop customised and flexible approaches to engage hard-to reach and more vulnerable sections of the population at risk of poverty. This includes the unemployed or underemployed youths or NEETS (young people Not in Employment, Education and Training) as well as women.

The YEP MED project promotes integration between the education sector, the technical vocational and educational training (TVET) sector and career guidance. This should lead to the development of combined approaches that include counselling, mentoring, specialized employment advisory support, entrepreneurship promotion, tailor-made training, and job placements.

To date, the Jordanian group has already completed the following activities during the first year of the project:

• Meeting with Port & Logistics Community (PLC)
• Developed & organized the introductory vocational and occupational training courses, resulting in 70 students, 18 experts trained.
• VT2 and 3 already organized by the Escola Europea: 15 trainees from Jordan.
• Organized graduation ceremony for trainees.
• Developed a survey to identify training needs among the PLC
• Distribute the survey + Analyze of survey: 45 questionnaires with experts.
• Followed a meeting with the PLC explaining the main findings.
• Several meetings with Jordanian partners were made to encourage them to join the project. Signing off MOUs is still TBD.
• Engagement of local training institutions.
• Meetings with Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA)
• Thetargeting of trainers & mentors in training institutions for the vocational training courses & the development of the VT1 & OT1 material was prepared by instructors.

With only positive outcomes on the horizon for the Aqaba port community, the project is bound to bring the goals laid out in the organisation’s master plan closer to fruition.