KOLKATA: Association of Multimodal Transport Operators of India (AMTOI), on Wednesday, 07 September, had their Managing Committee meeting at Kolkata after a gap of 6 years. It was followed by a Seminar on Port & Infra Development in Eastern India — opportunities and challenges. This was an apt subject as the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker Shri Vinit Kumar I.R.S.E.E, Chairman, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SPMP) said .in his speech that there are great many opportunities in the eastern region and yet there are challenges as well. He said that the port is 152 years old and has served the country well. It's strategic location helps the trade as most of the exports and imports are from within a radius of 100 Kilometres. The port has draught issues and to overcome that, transhipment has been started at the anchorage due to excellent draught available there. He further emphasised that there is a great amount of cooperation between India and Bangladesh and Inland Waterways will play a great role in promoting the trade, as Indo-Bangladesh protocol agreement is already in place and the new initiative which is taking shape is connecting North Eastern States of India- Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura with the Calcutta Port via Mongla and Chittagong (Chattagram) port in Bangladesh.
He said that recently they sent a cargo to Mongla in Bangladesh and from there to Meghalaya and Tripura. He informed that opening of Padma Setu will strengthen Indo-Bangla trade, besides reducing cost and transit time, the new moves will create employment opportunities in ports, trucking facilities and other related areas in both the countries. This is two-way traffic. He estimated that it will reduce the cost by 30% and transit time by 40% which is a win-win situation for all stakeholders and gives an alternative to the chicken neck. He is also upbeat on transit via waterways and is looking up to trade with Bangladesh growing by 13%. Using waterways is environmentally friendly too.
Shri Vinit Kumar informed the star studded gathering that the port has taken several initiatives in Digitisation and AI technology and for filing of any Document, one does not need to go to the port. All documentation can be done sitting in the comfort of the office even using a mobile. He informed that the port is coming up with the tracking system for containers where using a simple mobile one needs to feed the container number to know where the container is lying. He further informed that at the Governmental level, a National Logistics Portal is being planned.
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Speaking on the occasion, the Guests of Honour Shri Sabyasachi Hajara
(Ex CMD of Shipping Corporation of India & and current Chair - Logistics of BCC&I) and Shri Pramod Srivastava (President - National Association of CFS) also spoke about the impact of inland waterways and ICDs in transforming Kolkata / Haldia port and the logistics scenario of Eastern India. Mr. Hajara stressed on the future development of inland waterways system, which according to him, will create a boom in the entire region. Mr Srivastava gave insights into the great work that is ongoing under the leadership of Port Honourable Chairman Vinit Kumar I.R.S.E.E and the fruits of labour will be reaped in times to come.
According to the National President of AMTOI
Shri Xerrxes Master, said that multimodal logistics is the way forward and AMTOI and its associate bodies are working closely along with the government in formulating the policies and that government regularly seeks their opinion and guidance. It works closely with authorities and key stakeholders to help improve and develop world class infrastructure that will add value to the vibrancy of the Eastern Region. He informed that AMTOI regularly studies, promotes, develops, inspires, creates interest, help, assists and arranges for organizing and propagating Multimodal Transport activities in India. Xerrxes further opined that for any economy to sustain and grow a robust supply chain is the basis and during the pandemic despite fears and psychological barriers, various restrictions, the Multimodal Operators kept the supply chain moving seamlessly and Indian Prime Minister’s dream of turning Indian into a US$5 trillion economy can only be translated into action through a much better, stronger and efficient multimodal supply chain and logistics mechanism. He said that more frequent and regular interactions and exchange of thoughts and ideas with AMTOI’s counter organisations in other countries will pave the way for a stronger transnational multi-modal logistics and supply chain mechanism.
The conference witnessed a huge attendance of owners & senior professionals of organizations within the industry domain along with related service providers. HE Shri Eshor Raj Poudel (Consul General of Nepal), Shri Lok Raj Bohra (Nepal Consul - Trade), representatives from Bhutan Pema Wangchuk
(Jt. Commissioner of Custom) and Shri Trilok Thapa (Bhutan STC), Shri Samrat Rahi (Dy Chairman SPM Port), Shri R S Rajhans (Traffic Manager of SPM Port), Shri Ashok Janakiram (President ASIC),
Shri Sandip Dey (President Calcutta Customs House Agents Association) and Shri Nilesh Sinha (Hon. General Secretary of HTOA) also graced the occasion.
The convener of the Eastern Region Chapter,
Shri Brij Lakhotia expressed his deep satisfaction on the star studded enormous turnout and enthusiasm of delegates and said that the discussions will pave way for development in Eastern Region especially Ports and Infra development to further bring down the cost index of logistics, contributing to the growth of Eastern Region which has to be the growth engine if we must make India a 5 trillion economy. He expressed thanks to the Who’s Who from the shipping fraternity for gracing the occasion and expressed confidence that AMTOI, under whose aegis the seminar was conducted, being the only
Pan India trade body in shipping and logistics industry - with current membership strength of over 350+ MTO's in shipping and logistics, and associate members constituting of CFS operators, tank container operators, ship owners, shipping agents, and Extended board of
18 associations as its members - will be beneficial to the trade. He further informed that AMTOI regularly conducts training seminars on various subjects, which are most beneficial to the trade and hoped that this Seminar will for sure reawaken, relight, renew, resurrect, revitalise, reactivate, revive the awareness and activities of AMTOI in the Eastern Region that it shall continue to do good for the trade to the best of its abilities with zeal and fervour To make the seminar a phenomenal success Convener Eastern Region Chapter (ERC) of AMTOI Shri Brij Lakhotia was ably supported by Co-Convener ERC Shri Kaushik Roy, Mentor ERC Shri Sumit Sircar, Coordinator ERC Shri Devpal Menon, Members Master of Ceremony Shri Vivek Chowdhury, worked tirelessly under the guidance of Shri Pramod Srivastava.
