Amman, Sept. 22 (Petra) -- The Association of Owners of Clearance and Transport Companies is stepping up regional cooperation after joining the General Assembly of the International Shipping Companies Union in Damascus.

Association president Dhaifallah Abu Aqoula said the talks, opened by Syrian Transport Minister Yaarub Bader, focused on modernizing the transport sector, boosting Syria’s role in global agreements, and positioning it as a logistics hub for the region. The gathering drew representatives from both Syrian state institutions and international shipping bodies.

"Jordan believes that stability in Syria is the key to unlocking regional trade and supply chain integration," Abu Aqoula told delegates, stressing that transport cooperation directly drives jobs, growth, and sustainable development.

He pointed to recent progress between Amman and Damascus, including reduced truck fees, and underlined ongoing efforts to ease cargo movement, cut costs, and support economic recovery on both sides of the border.

Abu Aqoula also called transport a "strategic necessity," not just a technical issue. He urged building a smarter, faster, and safer shipping system to support exporters, importers, and transit trade, while giving both economies a competitive edge.

With their pivotal geography linking East and West, he said, Jordan and Syria can transform transport into a gateway for commerce and a model of inter-Arab cooperation.

"Customs centers and border crossings are lifelines," Abu Aqoula added. "Partnership between Jordanian and Syrian companies can open new doors for trade and growth." //Petra// RZ