Iraq Yields $100 Mn in Revenues after Expelling Militias from Frontier

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at Mandali border crossing between Iraq and Iran (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at Mandali border crossing between Iraq and Iran (Reuters)
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Iraq Yields $100 Mn in Revenues after Expelling Militias from Frontier

Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at Mandali border crossing between Iraq and Iran (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at Mandali border crossing between Iraq and Iran (Reuters)

Iraq's Border Ports Authority announced record financial revenues from customs duties as a result of the measures taken by the government of Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi at all border crossings to combat customs corruption, impose order and expel armed factions from the country's frontier.

Head of Iraq's Border Ports Authority Omar al-Waeli said the revenues amounted to $100 million in July despite customs exemptions on several goods and closure of the outlets due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He indicated that the revenues came from seven or eight crossings out of Iraq’s 21, stressing that the authority intends to achieve more revenues to support the state treasury in light of the country’s financial issues.

During his visit to Mandali crossing with Iran last month, Kadhimi vowed to pursue the “ghosts” who were transporting cargo trucks across the border without paying customs fees.

He ordered a team from the Emergency Response Division to take over the crossing, saying they are authorized to use live fire to stop anyone from attacking people working at the border.

Meanwhile, an informed source at the Ports Authority confirmed that the measures taken by the government have made a total difference in terms of increasing the financial revenues achieved and imposing the law.

Speaking to Asharq Al-Awsat, the source said that units of the armed factions were present at the ports under the pretext of supervising religious groups arriving from Iran during the pilgrimage season, but their presence became permanent.

They used the ports for trade operations, customs clearance, and illegally imposing fees and royalties, he added.

The source said that the government recently expelled all the factions and groups working outside the customs area, and dismissed several employees cooperating with those groups.

He also said he expects the revenues to increase in the coming months compared to previous years, noting that over half of the border ports are shut due to the COVID-19, and operating crossings are not at full capacity.



Port of NEOM Strengthens Role in Global Supply Chain Connectivity

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
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Port of NEOM Strengthens Role in Global Supply Chain Connectivity

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA
By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030 - SPA

Port of NEOM has marked a major milestone with the arrival of the first fully automated, remote-controlled Ship-To-Shore (STS) and Electric Rubber-Tyred Gantry (eRTG) cranes in the Kingdom, advancing its goal to become a global hub for smart, sustainable trade, SPA reported.

Strategically located on the Red Sea, Port of NEOM is already serving as a critical gateway on the East-West trade route. The newly arrived state-of-the-art cranes will play a critical role in the port’s automation strategy, unlocking the potential for high-volume, high-efficiency operations.

Development of Port of NEOM continues at a pace ahead of the 2026 opening of Terminal 1, a next-generation container terminal, with recent infrastructure milestones including the completion of a 900-meter quay wall and the deepening of the port channel to 18.5 meters—enabling the world’s largest vessels transiting the Suez Canal to call at Port of NEOM.

Terminal 1 will also feature horizontal transport automation as part of its broader goal to achieve full automation. Once operational, these technologies will significantly expand the port’s logistics capacity, driving regional industrial growth, opening access to global markets, enhancing supply chain resilience, and unlocking business opportunities.

Port of NEOM Managing Director Sean Kelly said: “The arrival of our first automated cranes marks a tangible milestone as we lay the foundations for an advanced, future-ready port. We are not only accelerating industrial growth in northwest Saudi Arabia, but we are also setting a new benchmark for performance, efficiency, innovation and establishing a vital trade gateway for the Kingdom and the region beyond.”

In parallel with its investments in infrastructure and automation, Port of NEOM is also committed to developing local talent, including training Saudi women to take on high-tech roles. Central to this effort is a pioneering initiative to train the next generation of production specialists in remote crane operation skills, thereby helping to shape a more inclusive future for the logistics and industrial sectors.

By empowering Saudi workers with high-tech skills, Port of NEOM is supporting NEOM’s vision of being a catalyst for a sustainable, diverse, and innovative ecosystem that enables regional economic resilience and advances the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.