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Aden port contract with DPIC terminated
Waheed Rasheed, Aden’s governor, said the Dubai Ports International Company has not been committed to the years-old agreement; this, he said, is the reason behind the end of the agreement.
“The economic income of Yemen has become scant,” Rasheed said. “The port witnesses different tensions that were supposed to be solved by the company. However, no action was made to address those tensions.”
Rasheed said the Yemeni government disapproves of many mistakes committed by the company; a committee has been formed by the cabinet to discuss the issue with Dubai Ports International Company.
“However, the latter didn’t accept the committee’s demands.”
The manipulation of the port is the reason behind its fragile and stagnant economy, he said, adding that there must be competition by many operators in the port so it becomes stable and economically profitable.
“We hope the government will adopt a special policy away from the monopolization of any company or individual.”
Mohammed Jubran, economics professor at Sana’a University, said the cancellation of the agreement could have negatively impacted Yemen’s economy if the ports had been in full swing in the past. He said Aden ports witnessed a stagnant phase due to government policy that doesn’t aim to activate the national economy.
“Therefore, the economy will not be influenced by the contract’s termination.”
Jubran said Yemen would benefit from this decision if there are no legal consequences of this decree.
Jubran said he hopes Minister of Transportation Waed Badeeb finds alternatives to operate Aden port anew and to restore its international reputation. This can be achieved, he said, via international partners or public contributions made to port operatives.
The Supreme Committee for Combating Corruption in Yemen recently demanded an end to the Dubai Ports International Company contract, accusing the company of derailing Aden Port operations at the advantage of other ports the company is in charge of.
On the day of the contract termination, unidentified armed men attempted to assassinate Badeeb in Khoor Maksar, in Aden, while en route to the port on official business.
