Transport experts call for overcoming sector challenges, leveraging achievements within EMV
Amman, 14 July 2025 (Petra) – Transport and logistics experts on Monday stressed the need to address sector challenges and build on recent achievements during the second phase of Economic Modernization Vision (EMV) workshops held for the second day at the Royal Hashemite Court.
The workshop reviewed the current state of the transport and logistics sector, evaluated key success factors identified during the first phase, and explored strategic objectives and priority areas for future focus.
Participants emphasized that the EMV had prioritized strengthening institutional frameworks, reviewing related legislation, establishing sustainable financing mechanisms, and enhancing specialized human capital.
They underlined the sector’s potential to create job opportunities and contribute significantly to GDP growth, noting the need for better infrastructure, adoption of clean energy in transport systems, and greater use of digital and smart solutions including data and information systems.
The session also highlighted the importance of strong public-private partnerships and engaging academic and technical expertise from Jordanian universities, particularly in utilizing artificial intelligence to address challenges across all transport modes.
Chairman of the Jordanian Logistics Association (JLA), Nabil Al-Khatib, said Jordan’s strategic location makes it a regional hub for logistics services and that the sector had seen notable investment growth in recent years.
Speaking to Petra, Al-Khatib said the workshop tackled all transport modes including rail, road, air, and maritime and examined how to enhance Jordan’s position in regional connectivity.
He described the overall vision as ambitious yet feasible, noting it was developed by highly qualified experts and enjoys political will and royal support for its success.
He added that Jordan’s logistics sector remains attractive to investors, with cargo handling at Aqaba Port increasing by more than 20 percent. He also highlighted recent legislative improvements, particularly in customs, which will further support the sector.
Rana Al-Imam, Professor of Transport Engineering at the University of Jordan, emphasized the importance of refining and adapting initiatives through these workshops in line with technological advancements in the transport and logistics fields.
She said education plays a key role in supporting the sector, noting that introducing technical tracks in secondary education creates an opportunity to develop skilled labor, particularly in electric vehicle maintenance an area vital to modern urban transport.
Al-Imam called for the integration of AI in transport development, highlighting that this specialization has already been introduced at several public and private universities. She pointed to AI’s potential to solve traffic congestion, manage public transport routes more efficiently, and enhance bus operations.
She also stressed the importance of considering each governorate’s unique geographical and environmental context when planning urban transport and advocated for diverse transport models tailored to local needs.
Finally, she called for expanding app-based transportation services to include not only individual vehicles but also public transport and medium-sized buses to improve group travel options.