Representatives from Kannur’s trade and industry body are exploring the possibility of using New Mangalore Port for their export-import needs.
Mr P. Tamilvanan, chairman of NMPT (New Mangalore Port Trust), told Business Line that Kannur region of north Kerala is in close proximity to New Mangalore.
A delegation of the Kannur-based North Malabar Chamber of Commerce, headed by its office-bearers, visited the port on Thursday and held discussion with the port authorities.
There is good potential for routing cargoes such as timber, edible oil, coir and textiles from north Kerala region through New Mangalore Port. The container freight station of the Central Warehousing Corporation at Kannur can be used for routing the container cargo from that region, he said.
The delegation also discussed issues related to the arrival of vessels and handling charges at the port. The port will discuss these issues with the agents in Mangalore and take steps to handle cargo from Kannur region, he said.
Mr Tamilvanan said Mr Vinod Narayan, president of the Chamber, had promised to prevail upon the exporters and importers from Kannur region to mobilise cargo through NMPT, which is nearer to them.
The deputy chairman of NMPT, Mr T.S.N. Murthy, and the representatives from the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, shipping agents, mainline and feeder line operators, and officials of the Customs department participated in the interactive meeting with the delegation of the North Malabar Chamber of Commerce, he added.