en.Wedoany.com Reported - Gulftainer (GT) has announced the launch of its first dedicated feeder service connecting the UAE with Iraq's Umm Qasr, operated by its shipping division GT Lines. This milestone comes 17 years after the company built Iraq's first modern container terminal in Umm Qasr in 2009, marking a further extension of Gulftainer's efforts to build an end-to-end trade and logistics network in the country.

The direct service links Umm Qasr with UAE gateway ports and regional and global logistics hubs. By integrating GT Lines' own vessels, Iraq's commercial terminal, and the Umm Qasr Logistics Center, Gulftainer is creating a comprehensive trade corridor that connects Iraq to the company's broader global network via the UAE.

At the core of this platform is the Umm Qasr Logistics Center, located adjacent to Iraq's commercial terminal. The terminal, logistics center, and GT Lines together form a fully integrated maritime and logistics ecosystem, offering warehousing, container storage, cargo consolidation, customs facilitation, and value-added services to streamline cargo flow and enhance Iraq's supply chain resilience.

Farid Belbouab, Group CEO of Gulftainer, stated that seventeen years ago the company built Iraq's first modern container terminal, and now, by connecting the UAE with Umm Qasr via its own GT Lines vessels, this is not just a new route but an integrated corridor, providing Iraqi businesses with the certainty and reliability needed for trade.

The new service is strategically positioned to strengthen Iraq's role as a global trade gateway, reinforcing Gulftainer's long-term commitment to Iraq's potential in connecting the Gulf, the Levant, and Asia. By improving cargo visibility and providing predictable access to global markets, the service connects Iraqi traders with East Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Africa, and beyond. Farid Belbouab added that Iraq's trade and logistics needs have evolved beyond what a terminal alone can provide, and this dedicated service represents the next phase of the company's long-standing partnership with the Iraqi Port Authority.

As Iraq diversifies its economy and sees growth in non-oil trade volumes, Gulftainer continues to invest in building an integrated network around its own port and logistics assets. The company currently operates 10 vessels connecting the Gulf, Iraq, India, Pakistan, China, and Southeast Asia, strengthening its role as a long-term trade enabler for Iraq and the wider region.