Cochin Port Trust, a Government of India establishment which governs Cochin Port – a major port on the Laccadive Sea – Indian Ocean sea-route and is one of the largest ports in India, is planning to develop Kochi, India as cotton trade hub. This has been revealed by the port Chairman P Raveendran, who took over the charge recently.
The port officials have reportedly approached Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) to discuss the dedicated facilities to import, store and re-export cotton at the International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) at Vallarpadam.
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“Preliminary talks with shippers are encouraging. The customs bonded area and SEZ status of Vallarpadam terminal offer advantage to the cotton trade,” the Chairman said in a conversation with a leading business newspaper.
Special facilities were offered to handle cotton in a bid to attract a part of this Exim cargo now being handled at the neighbouring Colombo port. Right now, SIMA is bringing cotton in containers using the Colombo port as a hub. Kochi offers amenities that match international standards for import, warehousing and re-export of the product at comparable cost. If things go planned, the Port anticipates to handle 30,000 TEUs of cotton in the current year.
