Gulf Economist

The current research aims to study and analyze the efficiency of the performance of quay cranes at container terminals, which is one of the most important logistical activities (container handling) at container terminals. This can be done by using one of the mathematical models of the theory of parallel queues, and determining the optimal number of service channels (the number of quay cranes). It works on balancing the costs of waiting and service and reducing the total cost, reducing waiting times, and increasing the rate of service activity, which ultimately leads to enhancing the competitive advantage.
The research relied on the mixed approach, and also relied on the case study strategy by conducting the study on one of the container terminals in the port of Umm Qasr, which is (the multi-purpose terminal of Basra). The data for the study was collected through field visits and interviews with those in charge of managing the logistics activities at the port. The collected data included recording the arrival times of transport trucks to the service channels represented by quay cranes, in order to apply the mathematical models to queuing theory.
The research reached number of conclusions, the most important one was that the process of allocating cranes doesn’t fit with the efficiency of the cranes after measuring the performance of quay cranes operating in the container terminal specified for the study. Recommendations presented at the end of the current research.

The global economy is exposed to many shocks in terms of economic, social, health and security, the latest of which was the shock of the Corona pandemic and the accompanying decline in the level of economic activity as a result of the cessation of life wheel as well as the decline in oil prices as a result of low global demand for oil, which led to an increase in oil supply. This shock, which swept all economies of the world, was negatively reflected negatively on oil countries. As Iraq is a rentier country dependent on oil rents in an almost complete way, it is affected by any emergency fluctuations in the oil market. The Iraqi economy witnessed two double shocks, the first of which was the shock in 2014, the occupation of most of the country, which was accompanied by a decrease in oil prices. The second is a shock in 2020, represented by the Corona pandemic and the decline in oil prices. The two shocks have an impact on all joints of the Iraqi economy

The study aims to reveal and define the role of maritime services infrastructure in improving the quality of maritime services in Iraqi ports, and a questionnaire was developed to ensure the existence of a relationship between the study variables (maritime services infrastructure - an independent variable) and (improving the quality of maritime services - a dependent variable). The study concluded that there is a positive impact relationship with significant statistical significance for the maritime services infrastructure and its dimensions (maritime communications, specialized maritime units, maritime maintenance, specialized maritime staffs and crews) in improving the quality of maritime services, so the study recommended the need to pay attention to the maritime services infrastructure and benefit from The results of the study to enhance the status of Iraqi ports and the maritime crew in the field of competition in the maritime industry and the effective role of ports in the maritime transport industry..

The world has witnessed a major shift in the environmental arena as a result of climate change, water scarcity ,desertification and gas emissions .The experience of the United Arab Emirates was chosen. The indicators have also been applied to identify the possibilities of transformation towards a green economy , and to identify the most important obstacles that prevent the possibility of transformation . Real growth achieved through economic policies to preserve the ecosystem .

The aim of the research is to highlight the impact of marine craft in the Iraqi commercial marine pieces that belong to the General Company for Maritime Transport to clarify the interest rate of providing marine insurance, which reduces marine losses, and to achieve the objectives of the research, the researcher developed the hypothesis scheme, which shows the nature of the relationship between the main research variables, which is the independent variable (marine insurance), and the dependent variable (marine pieces management), noting that the General Company for Maritime Transport owns six commercial ships transporting Various goods, and that the total community of the company's members are (1230) individuals and individuals working in commercial ships (390) individuals and accordingly the research sample was (194) individuals were distributed to them questionnaire form, the researcher relied on statistical programs (SPSS. V.23, EXCEL V.10) in the analysis of the resolution data, and the results of the statistical analysis have reached the acceptance of the hypothesis that aims at the relationship of correlation and effect between the independent variable (marine insurance) and the dependent variable (marine management of marine craft ).

The expansion of foreign trade is linked to the nature of the tools used in it. The more developed and advanced these tools are, the more they lead to an expansion of the volume of foreign trade, reducing the risks related to international trade, and becoming more secure between the exporter and the importer.
The Iraqi economy faces the problem of providing financial resources represented in foreign currencies, due to the diversity of its import needs that require large financing of foreign currencies to cover the value of those imports, on the other hand, the only source for obtaining these currencies is oil exports, which are always exposed to the problems of low oil prices and low quantities of demand Because of the economic crises that the global economy in general and the Iraqi economy is exposed to in particular, therefore, the process of financing foreign trade and the possibility of using internationally known financial tools in implementing the financing process is one of the most important problems facing the Iraqi economy due to its great dependence on the foreign trade sector.
The research seeks to know how Iraq's foreign trade is financed, whether in the government sector trade or the private sector. Access to the most important tool in financing foreign trade in Iraq and to identify the new tools used in this field as well.

The information technology of flexibility (ITF) and its relationship to competitive performance is one of the important topics that are still in the exploratory stages, especially in Arab environments, and this study was based on dynamic capabilities. This study was applied in the General Company for Ports of Iraq / um Qasr Port in Basra. The current study relied on the descriptive analytical approach and the study data was collected using the questionnaire tool that was distributed to the study sample of 368 working individuals. Through the use of statistical methods in my program (SPSS. V.24 _ AMOS. V.24) The study reached several conclusions and recommendations. The most important of which is the positive and direct impact of(ITF) on competitive performance and indirectly through supply chain capabilities. The study recommends the need to pay attention to the capabilities of the supply chain in terms of speed of response and coordination, integration of activity and the availability of the ability to transfer and exchange information, as the role of information technology flexibility and its positive impact is clearly visible, and its impact extends through the capabilities of the supply chain, which is reflected in improving the overall performance of ports.

Education is the main tool in the development of the human element, which is called investment in human capital, which is the mainstay for the development of peoples. As for the labor market, it is the main pillar of the labor force, and it is the market that specializes in employment through supply and demand for work. The labor market in Iraq can eliminate unemployment and poverty and increase production and productivity, through proper planning and exploitation of education outputs in the state’s economic policy through coordination between the outputs of Education and the need of the economic sectors are among the competencies of these outputs in order to advance the reality of the Iraqi economy to development and recovery.
However, the Iraqi economy suffers from distortions and imbalances, which resulted in the deterioration of the various economic sectors. Therefore, we must focus on the interrelationship between the labor market and education in order to move the wheel of the Iraqi economy. This requires huge funds, successful planning and specialized experts in this regard. The main reason for the inability of the labor market to absorb the workforce of graduates is due to the lack of allocations directed to education by the state, which did not meet the required need to advance the educational reality, as well as inefficient employment due to nepotism and nepotism, which negatively affects the labor market and thus reduces productivity, and production in various economic sectors. As unemployment and poverty rates are high with the increase in the population, and there is a decrease in the level of employment in the labor market, this is the result of the lack of strategic planning between education and the labor market's need for skilled labor that is employed in the productive economic sectors in Iraq.

There are challenges facing the transportation system in the logistics services field and their impact on the economic development in the Saudi Arabia Kingdom represented by the customs clearance procedures, regulations and laws that prevent the flows of foreign investments into this logistical activity. As the ranking of the logistics, performance index in the Saudi Arabia Kingdom declined from 52 globally in 2016 to 55 globally in 2018. Freight rate index retreated from the 48th rank in the world in 2016 to the 56th rank in 2018, the infrastructure index declined from the 40th rank in the world in 2016 to the 43rd rank in the world in 2018. This indicates that the determinants of the logistics' sector which includes the infrastructure index, the customs index, and the freight rate index stands up in front of them administrative and organizational challenges that hinder the development of logistics services. Therefore we see that the development of the logistics' sector will lead to achieve high quality in global logistical performance indicators. One of the most important recommendations presented in the study is the improvement of customs procedures through the implementation of additional improvement standards to reduce customs release times in seaports