MPT to offer sops to exporters

In order to attract container traffic business from the neighbouring states, Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) plans to offer operational sops to exporters.

The port has been trying to diversify its cargo handling ever since the iron ore mining ban in Goa affected export of the mineral and thereby the port’s main cargo traffic.

The port is willing to offer one-to-one service so that the consignment can be loaded onto the ship till the last minute. There is no cutoff time for loading the consignment even as busy traffic in other nearby ports at Mumbai and Mangalore makes it difficult for their authorities to render personalized service to exporters.

In order to facilitate the cargo movement to the Goa port, MPT is also willing to take on lease land in the neighbouring district of Belgaum.

The port is plans to explore trade ties with Hubli and Bagalkot districts of Karnataka, and Kolhapur in Maharashtra.

As part of its diversifying strategy, the only major port in Goa resorted to exporting maize, granite and even wood. The port aims to become a multi-commodity facility in the course of time.

For a long period of time, the port has been known as mono-commodity port owing to its heavy dependence on iron ore.