Haldia International Container
Terminal (HICT) has achieved another milestone with the commencement of a new
Bangladesh service from Haldia on February 6, 2018 under the Indo-Bangladesh
Coastal Protocol.
Located 90 km from Kolkata, the
Petrapole-Benapole border handles $ 3.4 billion (Rs 22,000 crore) of the $ 6
billion bilateral trade with Bangladesh. In 2016-17, Indian exports accounted
for more than 70 per cent of the trade through this gate.
However, due to the slow pace of
border clearance, a truck normally takes 22 days, including two weeks on the
Indian side, to complete its trade run.
The Bangladesh trade was eagerly
seeking an alternate efficient mode, delivered by a short coastal route with
reliable vessel service, delivering goods right up to Dhaka and Chittagong
ports.
A ray of hope has emerged, from the
immense efforts put in by the J. M. Baxi Group, which has come up with a robust
vessel service in accordance with the India-Bangladesh Coastal Protocol.
The maiden voyage KSL Pride,
with rated capacity of 170 TEUs, berthed at the container terminal at Haldia
managed by the J. M. Baxi Group.
This was just a beginning, as the
trade will receive scheduled service, improving delivery lead times, and massive
savings in material holding costs.
Haldia Dock Complex must be
appreciated for its continuous support in bringing new services to Haldia, said
a release.
Source : Exim
News Service - Kolkata, Feb. 11