Shri P. Nageswara Rao, Guest of Honor & Chief
Commissioner of Central Tax
Shri A.V. Ramana, Chairman in-charge, Cochin Port Trust,
Shri Prakash Iyer, President, Cochin Steamer Agents
Association,
Shri A.A. Abdul Azeez, President, Cochin Customs Brokers
Association,
Shri Goutam Gupta, Traffic Manager,
Shri Vaidhyanathan, Chief Engineer, Cochin Port Trust
Madhyama Suhruthukkale,
Sahodaree Sahodaranmaare,
Ellaavarkkum Ente Namaskaaram,
I am very happy to address you at the Port Day Celebrations, which commemorates the arrival of the first Steam Ship Padma into Cochin Harbor on 26th May 1928.
Let me at the outset, compliment the Cochin Port Trust authorities for including in this celebration, the presentation of awards to employees as well as those in the Trade. Recognition of true merit strengthens unity and enhances efficiency in every organization.
As we all know, India has a coastline of over 7500 km and potentially navigable waterways stretching to over 14500 km. It is therefore not surprising that ports handle more than 90 percent of India’s total Export- Import trade volume. Yet, we have a long way to go to ensure the best ports and logistics infrastructure. We had been allowing only one percent of our Gross Domestic Product for the development of our Port infrastructure, while the Railways had a share of 9 percent and roads enjoyed 6 percent .This is what prompted the Government of India to envision the Sagarmala project to provide ports and the shipping their rightful place in the Indian economy, thereby enabling port-led development, Port-led urbanization, Coastal Tourism, Off-shore renewable energy projects etc.
I understand that the National Perspective Plan in this regard seeks to reduce the cost of export-import and domestic trade. This cost is very high in India compared to China and European nations. Our plan to deliver impact through over 150 projects and initiatives in four broad areas such as Port modernization, Port connectivity which envisages 80 projects, Port led industrialization through 14 Coastal Economic Zones and the development of Coastal Communities through focused skill-development, have brought in a new optimism.
It is gratifying to know that the Cochin Port and the Cochin Shipyard Ltd. have been contributing to the development of our Port led economy. As an all-weather natural Harbour strategically close to the busiest international sea routes like Gulf to Singapore and Suez to Singapore and Far East, the Cochin Port has been recording impressive growth in cargo handling. I am informed that it had achieved an all time high monthly cargo throughput of 2.825 million tonnes during January 2018. The 12.25 percent growth in container traffic also deserves appreciation.
I must also congratulate the authorities for initiating the construction of passenger-cum–cargo vessels by the Cochin ship Yard under the Make In India initiative. The upcoming International Ship Repair Facility at Cochin Port Trust, the Dry Dock etc., are expected to boost the Port infrastructure and our economy in the near future.
While such steps are encouraging, we also need to ensure a better Ease of Doing Business in our Ports, which are noted for cumbersome procedures for every service. It is good to know that steps like e-Visa, e-Landing card etc have received good response. Port based pollution is another area to be seriously addressed and it is high time we ensured Green Protocol in as many areas of port activity as possible.
Today, we have honoured some members of the Trade and the Port Trust for their efficiency. The Port's new developments would certainly benefit the traders, whose views are also actively considered in the expansion plans. While the growth of business is important in this era of globalisation, those in the Trade also have new responsibilities to fulfill, especially in their service to the people. First of all, business through ports has to be carried out with a clear concern and respect for the security of our ports and the nation.
Secondly, those in the business could think of diversifying to areas which would directly benefit the ordinary people. One instance is the cooperation in the Jal Marg Vikas Project which seeks to strengthen the inland water ways for transport and Tourism. In Kerala, for instance, we are struggling to find space for the development of our highways. Kerala’s water ways offer enormous potential for development. It would be really helpful if those in the Trade also stepped in with proposals. The encouragement our Tourism gets through this would be considerably great.
Similarly, when we strengthen the cargo movement through inland water ways, we would also be helping in the efficient and quick movement of our agro products, thereby helping our farmers. If our ports could gain the full confidence of our agricultural sector, it would mean better development of our rural economy. It would also mean a more creative role for Ports in national and rural development.
I congratulate all the Business Persons and Employees who have won awards today.
I greet all the staff and families present here and wish them all the best.
I also wish that the Cochin Port Trust's mission of providing dependable, cost-effective, customer friendly services with high quality be realized fully and sustained so that this Port becomes the major catalyst for Kerala's economic development.
I also compliment the organizers for conducting this function in a befitting manner.
Ellavarkkum Ente Aashamsakal
Nanni
Jai Hind
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