The Hindu Business Line : Call for aggressive marketing to lure pvt investors to port sector

INDIAN ports should adopt more aggressive marketing strategies to woo private investors into the sector , the Shipping Secretary, Mr D.T. Joseph, has said.

Investors are apprehensive about investing in the port sector due to lack of concerted efforts from the port managements. The ports should avail themselves of services from academic institutions and research scholars to market various developmental projects, he said while addressing members of the Cochin Steamer Agents' Association here.

Though the maritime sector worldwide is growing at a faster pace, it is at a slow pace in India on account of the `colonial mindset' of port managements. "We should go and meet traders with a clear marketing strategy to attract cargo," he added.

Referring to the high vessel-related charges at Kochi Port, the Secretary said, the Ministry was prepared to bring down the charges on a par with that of Colombo on a experimental basis for six months, provided, there was good response from the trade. However, he said the earnings of Colombo port were more than that of Chennai, Kochi and Tuticorin ports.

Regarding the proposed Vallarpadam terminal, he said the Shipping Ministry was in favour of implementing the project under BOT route instead of a joint venture. He pointed out that the bidding formalities for the project would be redesigned and tender conditions reworked to attract private investors. The Government would also consider executing the project on a Government-to-Government basis if the bidders did not take interest in it. Already, Singapore Government and Dubai Port have evinced interest in the Vallarpadam project, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, the outgoing President of the Steamer Agents' Association, Mr C.S. Kartha, called upon the port management to take steps on a war footing to procure necessary equipment for the present container terminal. He said the port has not initiated any major development at the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal.

He pointed out that the conditions in the present terminal were pathetic resulting in the drop in productivity and turnaround of vessels. Mr Kartha also called upon the Ministry to consider the long pending demand of the Association for a representation on the Board of Trustees of the port to redress the grievance of steamer agents.

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