Relative cost and time advantages are drawing Indian exporters to the French port complex of Haropa for European markets. Indian companies such as Reliance Industries, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Dhunseri Petrochemicals and Electrosteel Castings have been using the three-port system, said Herve Cornede, Commercial and Marketing Director of Grand Port Maritime Du Havre.

Cornede claimed that Haropa port system was 30 per cent cheaper for Indian exports than its competitors in Europe were. From Nhava-Sheva and Kolkata to Le Havre an exporter can gain between three and seven days compared to Antwerp and Rotterdam and from Le Havre to Indian ports, between one and three days.

Currently on a road show in India, officials of Haropa, its allied services organisations and French customs, also made a pitch for cost effective idea for Indian exporters to ship goods to French-speaking West African destinations through its logistic and distribution hub.

Haropa, is a joint venture among the French ports of Le Havre, Rouen and Paris on the river Seine. It is now considered the fifth largest port complex in Northern Europe.

This deep-water port, capable of berthing super-ships at full load, is unaffected by tidal waves. Lower transit times to and from destinations in Asia, five-minute customs clearance, an array of allied services including inland water, rail and road transport networks and warehousing facilities have lent growth for Haropa.

“In 2014 our business grew by around 2.5 per cent, rare among European ports”, Cornede pointed out.

Franco-Indian trade ties ensured transhipement of break bulk and container cargoes from India without VAT and customs, the official said.

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