The shipping fraternity in Kochi was all praise for the Budget initiatives aimed at promoting coastal shipping, port development and inland water transportation.

Above all, the announcement of setting up a 24x7 customs clearance facility in 14 more ports would facilitate a speedy cargo clearance, CS Kartha, Vice-President of the Cochin Chamber of Commerce and Industry said.

The Indian Customs Single Window project to facilitate trade, when implemented, will be the single-most effective exercise that would facilitate business for exporters and importers in major ports, he told Business Line on the sidelines of an event.

Kartha, who is also a former board member of Kochi Port, said that the incentives announced for coastal shipping would do much to promote this sector, which is still in its fledgling stages. This, along with the thrust on inland water transport will prove immensely beneficial to a State like Kerala and will, if properly implemented emerge as one of the most efficient, cost-effective and environment-friendly mode of transport.

Once this mode of transport is made available, he said, it will be possible to transfer a sizeable section of the cargo movement away from the overburdened roads. Furthermore, this will effectively bring down logistics costs, which are now extremely high, to a great extent. This will, in the long run, help in making our exports more competitive in the world markets.

According to Prakash Iyer, President of the Cochin Steamer Agents Association, the 16 new port projects are proposed to be awarded this year. A policy layout for encouraging the growth of Indian-controlled tonnage in the budget proposals would ensure increase in employment of the Indian seafarers. This is a positive step and coincides with the Government’s intention to create more jobs across all sectors, he added.

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