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Malaysia keen on investing in JNPT

Our Bureau

NEW DELHI, March 12

MALAYSIAN Government on Monday formally told the Indian Government that it was interested in capacity augmentation works at the country's premier, the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).

The offer to invest funds for building additional berths at JNPT was made by Mr Dato Seri Liong Sik, Minister of Transport, Malaysia, who is currently in India as the head of a 8-member Malaysian delegation.

Mr Dato Seri Liong Sik and the other delegates met the Union Minister of Shipping, Mr Arun Jaitley, on Monday to convey his country's interest in the development of JNPT through the memorandum of understanding (MoU) route.

It is reliably learnt that the Malaysian Government has expressed its keenness to operate the existing container terminal of JNPT through the Government controlled Port Klang Authority. But, a view in this regard will be taken only after the Government d ecides to privatise the existing container terminal at JNPT.

Mr Jaitley told the Malaysian delegation that the Indian system was based on transparency. As and when, the Government decides to develop additional berths in JNPT, the offer of Malaysia would be considered, he said.

Malaysia has already signed an MoU with the Tamil Nadu Government for the development of the minor port at Kolachel. It is also in talks with the Visakhapatnam Port Trust to develop a container terminal at the port which will act as a feeder to other hub ports in the region.