The Mormugao Port Trust (MPT), by changing its strategy from mono-commodity handling port into a multi-commodity one, has begun to attract foodgrain exporters from north Karnataka.

H.S. Vishwanath, Shimpigalli - an export house from Hubli - is exporting 240 tonnes of corn to Taiwan through the Mormugao port. About 10 containers have been loaded into the feeder vessel m.v. Tiger Malabar.

Recently when we conducted a ‘Trade meet' in few north Karnataka cities, we met food grain exporters and had briefed them about the facilities offered by us. As a follow-up measure, few exporters visited our port and today they have come forward to utilise it,” Mr P. Mara Pandiyan, Chairman, Mormugao Port Trust, said.

“H.S. Vishwanath was a regular user of JNPT, Mumbai, after studying our port operations especially the private labour employed to handle food grains, decided to divert their the consignments to our port,” he added.

Another Hubli company Uppin Food Products has also surveyed the facilities available at the Mormugao port and is expected to take a call shortly.

Mr Siddalingesh M. Uppin recently surveyed the facilities, in particular the container handling operations, availability of dry and reefer containers, schedule of feeder vessels and supporting services for export in the Mormugao port.

Mr Pandiyan said “The main attraction at our port is that the consignments are loaded inside the port by using private labour which has not only improved the productivity but also reduced the labour cost to the exporter.”

Office bearers of the Karnatak Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI), the President, Mr N.P. Javali, Vice-Presidents, Mr Vasant N. Ladawa, Mr Andanappa Sajjanar and Mr Mahendra H. Ladhad, facilitated the exports.

> anil.u@thehindu.co.in

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