IBLCCI Ashit Desai Memorial Seminar in Mumbai on Indian shipping growth

On December 18, 2012, Indo-Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBLCCI) and Allcargo Logistics Limited held the Second Ashit Desai Memorial Seminar on Logistics at Anchorage, Royal Bombay Yacht Club in Mumbai. A major India trade conference, prominent personalities from the shipping fraternity participated and made a significant contribution to the seminar on the Indian shipping growth in 25 years. In his welcome address, Mr. Karl De Borger, President, IBLCCI, talked on the warm relationship between Belgium and India that helped the growth and investments between the two countries even in the global financial crisis. Mr. Xerxes Master, Member of the Governing Council and Immediate Past President, IBLCCI, recognized the great contribution made by the distinguished speakers of the day to the shipping and thanked Mr. Karl De Borger and Mr. Raj Khalid, Indian Representative, Port of Antwerp, for their support and guidance to the Chamber. Ms. Shantha Martin, CEO, Allcargo Logistics spoke on the company’s sustained performance and friendly working relationship with the port agents and the major shipping lines. Very briefly and effectively at that, Ms. Shantha Martin brought out the plans of the company on the sure path of achievements that will establish the presence of the company, here and abroad. Mr. Shashi Tanna, MD, Links International and President, AMTOI, in his extensive coverage of the Indian Shipping and the Global Shipping, pointed out that the challenges in the Indian context were the tax regime, multiplicity of regulations, manpower shortage, high port charges, declining tonnage in international trade and declining cargo support etc. Mr. S. Hajara, CMD, SCI, delivered the keynote address. After thanking the Chamber, he detailed the growth of the Indian shipping in the last 25 years. Bringing out the importance of the shipping industry which he described as the silent one, he said the contribution it makes to the world economy is really great. Amidst his talk on the vital aspects of the Indian shipping, he said: “The world cannot ignore China and India, as the majority of the world’s coal demand will come from these two nations in the next few years. Emerging economies cannot be suppressed much longer”. Mr. Raj Khalid proposed the vote of thanks.

The other dignitaries present for the occasion were Mr. Unnikrishnan, MANSA, President, Mr. Anand Sheth, Mr. Vivek Kele and Mr. Nailesh Gandhi.

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