For improving bilateral sea-route trade and commercial activitiesEmphasis was laid on transshipment and coastal shipping between the two countries
At a time when Odisha’s lone major port in Paradip is contending with dipping annual business, the visit of a five-member delegation from Bangladesh on Sept. 27 for improving bilateral sea-route trade and commercial activities has come as a refreshing breather.
“The Bangladesh delegation had a healthy interaction with Paradip Port Trust (PPT) officials. Emphasis was laid on transshipment and coastal shipping between the two countries. Besides PPT, the ports like Vishakhapatnam, Haldia and Kolkata would reap the benefits following the sea-route commercial activities of both the countries”, said PPT Secretary Naba Kumar Mishra.
The Bangladesh delegation, led by the Director General of Shipping Department Jobair Ahmed, comprised representatives from the Shipping Ministry, Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, Chittagong Port Authority and Mongla Port Authority, according to PPT officials.
The delegates had earlier visited Visakhapatnam Port. They would also pay a visit to Haldia and Kolkata port later on, said port officials.
As the global recession has cast its spell on port activities, the strengthening of Indo-Bangla trade ties is a significant development. Any form of additional cargo handling is a bonus for us. The port has failed to meet with the annual cargo handling target for three successive years. Thus the effort of Bangladesh to explore eastern coast for sea-route commerce is a positive event, he said.
As per an agreement signed between the two countries, Bangladeshi coastal vessels could be used commercially for transporting cargoes to and from India through Chittagong and Mongla ports. Bangaldesh has also suggested a protocol for transshipment of Indian cargo by using the conventional coastal vessels. The coastal shipping would cover import, export and carrying of transit goods between the two countries. With the implementation of this plan, the rest of the country will be connected with its east and south-east areas such as Visakhapatnam, Paradip of Odisha and Haldia of West Bengal.
The Bangladesh delegates were of the view that the cost of transportation of goods from India by road route is on a higher side. But the sea-route handling of goods would reduce the transportation cost considerably. Both the countries would reap the benefit from the coastal shipping, they said.
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