The Hindu Business Line : AILBIEA turns five

The Bombay Port Trust (BPT) Chairperson, Ms Neera Yadav, assured AILBIEA of all co-operation. She said that the efforts of the BPT would result in larger volumes of traffic at the Mumbai ports. "We agree with AILBIEA demand that stamp duty should be abolished."

The Chief Guest of the function, Mr P.C. Jha, Chief Commissioner (Customs), said: "Nearly 35 per cent of total Customs revenues comes from Mumbai alone. We, therefore, know the importance of co-operation with importers and exporters, particularly AILBIEA."

Mr A.K. Kumar, Commissioner, Customs, and trustee of BPT, said: "We are not only facilitators but we are more of a promoter now. There are problems but those can be solved by mutual co-operation."

Mr Nadir Godrej, Managing Director of Godrej Industries, speaking on the sidelines, disagreed with the common view of the AILBIEA members that exorbitant charges of the shipping agents were the biggest issue. "Infrastructure inadequacy is the biggest issue. Approach road to the port is in pathetic state. It needs to be addressed." Officials who spoke agreed that in the wake of liberalisation, the situation has changed tremendously and problems have changed accordingly. They said that they are trying to cope with new situation in a constructive way.

Mr Jayant Lapsia, President of AILBIEA, said that there were some black sheep even in their association. "I will never come to help those members if they are caught doing wrong. It is easy to accuse Customs, BPT, or other officials but we must do introspection and see our faults also."

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