Colombo Port has pivotal role to play
With the rapid economic growth in India, as one of the best ports in
the region Colombo port too has a pivotal role to play.
Speaking to Daily News Business Port of Chennai Chairman Capt.
Subhash Kumar said "all the major ports in India are sharing cargo and
we have to handle a large amount of cargo generated with the economic
boom in the country by 2011-2012.
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Capt. Subhash Kumar
Picture by Saliya Rupasinghe |
Though our ports are undergoing capacity improvement and development
process this cannot be only done by Indian ports. Colombo port has to
share this cargo with Indian ports," he said.
He said that Colombo port is doing quite well and it is among the
best ports in the world.
Compared to India ports charges in Colombo port are low and are lower
than other countries such as Singapore.
Cargo moves to the port that gives better service, cost and high
efficiency and Colombo port has to focus on this, he said.
Port is a service oriented business entity and efficiency is the key
of attracting business to any port.
When it come to adopting latest technologies ports in our region is
on par with the other major ports in the world. Ports in the region are
equipped with latest technologies, Kumar said.
Despite the global economic meltdown the ports in the South Asian
region performed well during last year, he said.
Most of the ports in India did well in 2009 compared to the previous
year. The Port of Chennai also showed a 3.5 percent growth.
There is a significant growth in export of cars from Chennai port and
nearly 250,000 cars had been handled by Chennai port last year and we
are targeting 300000 cars for this year.
The Chennai port is expecting more than 10 percent growth end of this
financial year, he said.
The Port of Chennai is on expansion process adding a mega container
terminal to the port operations and expects to complete this project
within two to three years.
Capacity improvement in the port is vital and the Port of Chennai
would achieve this through adding another berth and expanding existing
berths, he said.
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