AMTOI organized a seminar in Kolkata on the topic Eastern India Present and Future – Role pf Kolkata Port, on 6th September 2023. The seminar was organized along with AMTOI’s annual meeting in the eastern region and was attended by 150 delegates. Managing Committee members from Pan India converged at Kolkata to discuss various trade related issues.
Brij Lakhotia, convenor of the seminar said, “Bengal used to be the best performing state for Industrial and Agricultural produce and the port wasbiggest and busiest in country. However, Due to various factors this position was lost and at present the region is struggling compared to the rest of the country. He opined that if the East is to rise up and become a bright spot, a lot of new Industries need to be established, agriculture produce must be improved and there must be far greater ease of doing business. In 2022-23 while total merchandise exports of India were US$ 450.96 billion of this only 2.83% was from Bengal with the state’s exports pegged at Rs. 1 lakh crore.”
Lakhotia informed the house that the state Chief Secretary recently held a meeting with EXIM stakeholders and expressed that Bengal has all the potential to be the next manufacturing hub and double its exports within a decade.
Speaking on the occasion Mr. Xerrxes Master – President AMTOI, briefed about the AMTOI as an organization and its core activities. “It has four Chapters and has over 350 members registered with DG Shipping. It also has Associate members like CFS Operators, Tank Container Operators, Ship Owners, Shipping agents, and Air freight operators. Under the banner of AMTOI various councils such as the NVOCC Council, Liquid Logistics Council, Training Program Council, and the Womens Wing have been formed to aid these segments of the industry. The main objectives of the association are to organize MTOs at National levels, to study the issues faced by MTOs and seek resolutions with the appropriate authorities, to promote Multimodal Transport services in domestic and foreign trade, to improve quality of such services while reducing transaction costs, skill development and to promote implementation of the cargo community system.”
He expressed confidence that the with the industrious people of Bengal, infra development and port capacity enhancement projects, that the Ports of Kolkata & Haldia will play a vital role in shaping up a brighter future for the region and our nation.
The Chief Guest of the event Rathendra Raman IRTS – Chairperson Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (Erstwhile Kolkata Port), spoke at length and gave a presentation explaining the advantages of Kolkata port. He opined that there are numerous opportunities as the port enjoys geographical advantage and is best suited for the Eastern Region as it connects not only the neighbouring States, but also the neighbouring Nations. He informed that the Port has turned around and has made a profit to the tune of Rs. 300 crores, and that SMPA handled 58.175 million Tonnes of cargo traffic during 2021-22 (4th highest annual throughput) despite COVID 19 Pandemic and severe ‘Yaas’ cyclone in May 2021.
SMPK’s traffic handling was pegged in the 6th position, vis-à-vis other Major Ports of India and SMPA ranked 5th in 2021-22 amongst Indian Major Ports in handling Container TEUs.
He further outlined the vision & commitment of SMPK regarding port led industrialization and invited organizations to participate in the upcoming GMIS2023 to take advantage of the best opportunities in Maritime Sector.
Guest of Honour Capt Suji Basu Mazumdar said, “the Kolktata Port was the biggest in India loading conventional break bulk vessels. The Port used to always be full, with at least 40 ships and all the berths being occupied and that there here were plenty of buoys and multiple vessels on each buoy. However, as cargo containerization took place, there was a complete global change in the transportation of goods, and this affected the break bulk vessels as well as warehouses ashore storing the cargoes. This was the point Kolkata Port started to lose its position.”
He then reaffirmed that of late the port is performing well, despite the perineal problem of low draft levels, which started after the water sharing accord between India and Bangladesh and resulted in less water coming in and increased silting of the river. He was optimistic about the future with the infra development taking place in the past a few years and gave his view on how Haldia started developing and catering to bulk cargoes.
