The Hindu Business Line : Move to close HEPC office in Kochi flayed

The Cochin Custom House Agents Association has expressed concern over the move of the Handloom Export Promotion Council, Chennai, to close down its office at Willingdon Island here from July 31.

The CHA President, Mr C.P. Xavier, said HEPC has been operational at Kochi for the past many years and has been rendering essential service to shippers especially from the export shipments of handloom items from Kannur routed through the seaport and airport in Kochi. It is the only office of HEPC in Kerala.

CARGO VOLUME

It is pointed out that the Kochi Port had received around 200 teus of containerised cargo of handloom from various centres in the last three months and the figure is likely to go up in the coming months.

If the HEPC office were closed down, exporters and CHAs would be put into considerable difficulty, as they had to send their documents to Chennai HEPC office to get the endorsement prior to the shipment. This will create unnecessary delay for the shipment through the seaport and airport. The cost of exports would also go up, Mr Xavier said.

The cargo routed through Kochi Port is going to increase with the development of International Container Transhipment Terminal at Vallarpadam. At this juncture, he said, it would be a blow to exporters and port users if the office of HPEC were closed down.

PLEA FOR REVIEW

The CHA President urged the authorities to reconsider their decision and take necessary steps to retain the office of HEPC at Kochi in the best interests of export trade through the port of Kochi.

A senior official at the India Gateway Terminal said they were aware of the issue and are planning to take it up with the concerned authorities in Chennai to retain the HEPC office at Kochi. If it is going to affect trade at Kochi, IGT will offer all possible help with other organisations to retain it here, the official said.

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