CUL Shipping India has officially commenced its journey as the General Agent for CU Lines Pte Ltd in India, marking a pivotal step in CU Lines’ expansion into the rapidly growing Indian market. With operations beginning on March 1, 2025, this move reinforces CU Lines’ commitment to enhancing service offerings and strengthening its presence in India.
Chairman’s Vision: Confidence in India’s growth potential
Speaking at the grand inauguration in Mumbai, Mr Raymond Chen, Chairman of CU Lines, expressed his strong confidence in India’s market potential and its growing role in global trade. He stated:
“India provides a strategic platform for growth. With its dynamic trade environment and ambitious infrastructure projects, we see immense potential in strengthening our container shipping solutions to serve Indian businesses more effectively.”
During his visit, Mr Chen engaged with key logistics leaders, further solidifying CU Lines’ long-term commitment to the Indian market. He reaffirmed the company’s dedication to building a robust logistics network aligned with India’s vision for global trade leadership.
Strategic direction from CU Lines’ leadership
Mr Yew Ping Teo, Chief Trade Officer & Vice President of CU Lines, elaborated on CU Lines’ strategic roadmap for India. He emphasised that the company’s global headquarters in Singapore will work closely with CUL Shipping India to ensure better trade visibility, operational flexibility, tailored customer experience and identifying potential trade lanes and areas for expansion and growth.
“India is one of the most promising trade hubs, and CU Lines is committed to investing in new trade corridors, technology and workforce development to support this market’s rapid growth,” Mr Teo stated.
He also underscored CU Lines’ plans to deepen synergies with key logistics providers, freight forwarders and shipping stakeholders, ensuring seamless trade facilitation across global markets.
Managing Director’s address: A vision for growth
Capt. Sanjay Gujral, Managing Director of CUL Shipping India, outlined the company’s ambitious growth strategy, aligning with India’s national logistics vision. He highlighted key initiatives, including:
* Expansion of Trade Lanes – CU Lines operates critical services such as CIS (China-India Subcontinent Service), CIX2 (China-India Express Service), VG2 & VG3 (Vietnam-Gulf-India Service) and the newly launched IMR service to the Red Sea. The company plans to introduce additional trade lanes to strengthen India’s global connectivity.
* Alignment with “Gati Shakti” and “Make in India” Initiatives – CUL Shipping India is committed to supporting India’s logistics modernisation under the PM Gati Shakti Plan, focusing on integrated multimodal transport systems.
* Leveraging Port-led Growth (Sagarmala Initiative) – Ensuring efficient container shipping, inland connectivity and smooth trade flows for Indian exporters and importers.
Capt. Gujral also extended his appreciation to Seahorse Shipping Agencies, CU Lines’ erstwhile agents, for their decade-long dedication in managing CU Lines’ business in India. He also expressed heartfelt gratitude to all customers for their unwavering support over the years and reaffirmed CUL Shipping India’s commitment to serving them with even greater dedication and excellence. He concluded by reaffirming CUL Shipping India’s mission to enhance customer experience through operational excellence, integrity, reliability and innovation.
Wesley Chen on expanding CU Lines’ reach in India
Mr Wesley Chen, Chief Owners’ Representative for India, shared CU Lines’ strategic plans, emphasising service integrity, efficiency and enhanced trade connectivity. He announced that CUL Shipping India has already established offices in Mumbai and Gandhidham, with NCR/Delhi office set to open soon to cater to the growing industrial hubs in Northern India.
“With the Dedicated Freight Corridor now connected up to Mundra and expected to reach NSA by year-end, we anticipate exponential growth from Northern India,” he remarked.
A grand celebration of culture & collaboration
The inauguration was not just a corporate milestone but a celebration of India’s rich heritage. A classical Indian dance performance was a highlight of the ceremony, symbolising the deep-rooted cultural ties between India and global trade partners.
The networking session facilitated valuable discussions among industry leaders, followed by a grand luncheon where guests exchanged insights on India’s growing role in maritime logistics and appreciated CUL’s plans to expand business in India.
CUL Shipping India: Shaping the future of maritime logistics
With Mumbai as its central hub, CUL Shipping India is poised to enhance trade accessibility, improve operational efficiency and drive innovation in logistics. Its future roadmap includes:
* Expanding service coverage to new trade lanes.
* Strengthening collaborations with Terminals, Container Freight Stations (CFS), Intermodal and Inland Depots.
* Investing in manpower development to build a skilled, customer-centric workforce.
* Aligning with India’s National Logistics Policy for seamless multimodal connectivity.
A landmark moment for CU Lines & Indian trade
The launch of CUL Shipping India marks a transformative milestone, strengthening trade partnerships and enabling seamless global connectivity. With a strategic vision, strong leadership and a customer-first approach, CUL Shipping India is set to strengthen its presence in India and redefine its logistics landscape.
CUL Shipping India proudly announces the successful set-up of its office, marking a significant milestone in its expansion, emphasised a communique.
Mr Samarjit Khuntia, Head of Finance, said that a heartfelt appreciation goes out to the entire CUL Shipping India teams at Mumbai and Mundra for their relentless efforts and commitment, which have been instrumental in making this achievement possible. “This new office reinforces our commitment to delivering excellence and strengthening our presence in the industry.”
Source: Exim News Service: Mumbai, March 5