Bonjour, new guests from small-town India
Puneet Dhawan of Accor is brimming with ideas on ways to revive the hospitality sector
India Ports Global Ltd, the entity formed to run the Chabahar port, has floated a tender to buy four cranes of 65 tonnes capacity each
India has culled a $29.8 million contract placed three years ago with Chinese port crane maker Shanghai Zhenhua Heavy Industries Co Ltd (ZPMC) for buying four so-called rail-mounted quay cranes (RMQCs) to be installed at Chabahar port in Iran as the government hits back at Beijing with more economic restrictions in the wake of the border dispute between the two countries.
India Ports Global Ltd, the entity formed to develop and run the India-funded Chabahar port, has floated a fresh tender to buy four new post Panamax RMQCs of 65 tonnes capacity each, a top government official said.
While the tender has not specifically barred Chinese crane makers such as ZPMC — the world’s largest port crane maker — from participating, the government official said the bidding process will follow the public procurement rules framed by the government on July 23 that virtually shuts out Chinese firms.
The new rules will apply for the crane procurement tender as the Chabahar port project is funded by India.
The contract for the quay cranes ordered at ZPMC was scrapped as the crane maker delayed construction on the gears, citing reluctance by foreign banks to open letter of credit that assures payment to the supplier despite a sanctions-waiver given by the US to the Chabahar port project.
ZPMC, according to the official, was also “reluctant” to supply the cranes particularly in view of the on-going border and diplomatic tensions that has led India to impose restrictions on Chinese suppliers and ban many mobile applications (apps).
“ZPMC won’t like Chabahar to come up because they have built Gwadar port in Pakistan which is just 90 km away,” the official said.
The July 23 order on public procurement has “implications” on sourcing gears from China. “The wordings of the order have been so carefully done, Chinese suppliers are not pin-pointed. But, definitely, Chinese suppliers will not be allowed to participate and they will not give any stuff for Chabahar port,” he said.
“ZPMC was also looking for a way out by dragging things and we were also not too keen to continue with them,” the official said. “There were lot of risks involved in going ahead with ZPMC,” he said, adding the scrapping of the deal “did not entail any financial liability”.
The delay in erecting cranes has de-railed the official start to the ten-year deal. India and Iran, though, have decided to start operations even in the zero period.
India also decided to walk out of the ZPMC crane deal since this was seen as the best way forward to procure RMQCs and expedite the project, without getting caught in dollar financing issues emanating from the sanctions imposed by the US on the Persian Gulf nation over its nuclear program.
In the tender, the bidders have to quote their offer price for the cranes in Euros or Indian rupees.
“European countries have so far not supported the US at least on the Iran sanctions issue,” he said. The successful bidder will have to deliver the cranes within 16 months from the date of opening of LC.
Puneet Dhawan of Accor is brimming with ideas on ways to revive the hospitality sector
Citroen’s first vehicle sports a novel design and European interiors. It is also meant to be as comfortable as ...
The pandemic is only the tip of the iceberg that the country’s cash-poor airlines — both regional and national ...
The government is yet to specify the framework of its recently announced old vehicle scrappage policy
Here is a checklist that equips you to discern the market nuances
Sensex, Nifty 50 have witnessed sharp decline
The fund has consistently outperformed S&P BSE 100 TRI over one, three and five years
Returns are superior to immediate annuity plans, but SCSS can secure better rates for new investors sooner if ...
With the public looking beyond mainstream media for reports from the ground, independent digital platforms are ...
Creator of the world’s biggest art canvas hopes to help children in poorer countries
A book on Badri Narayan is a tribute — albeit a belated one — to an artist who did not enjoy the recognition ...
The country hasn’t had a quiet moment since the military seized power on February 1
Its name is the starting point of a brand’s journey and can make a big difference in the success sweepstakes
Sober spirits are the in thing
A peek into where ad spends went last year and where they are headed tomorrow
Can Swiggy Instamart disrupt the ecommerce groceries space, currently ruled by the Amazons and Big Baskets? ...
Three years after its inception, compliance with GST procedures remains a headache for exporters, job workers ...
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives of companies are altering the prospects for wooden toys of ...
Aequs Aerospace to create space for large-scale manufacture of toys at Koppal
And it has every reason to smile. Covid-19 has triggered a consumer shift towards branded products as ...
Please Email the Editor