CPT Chairman Meets Tea Board Executive Director

KOCHI:
G.Senthilvel, Chairman, Cochin Port Trust accompanied by Dr. P Tamilvanan, Advisor (Marketing), and Girish Thomas Dy. Traffic Manager met C.Paulrasu, Executive Director, Tea Board at Connoor.
Senthilvel had detailed discussions with Paulrasu, regarding various aspects of tea export through Cochin Port. During discussions Senthilvel detailed the various facilities available at Cochin Port for handling tea exports viz. highest productivity at the Container Terminal at Vallarpadham, dedicated train
service from Irugur to Vallarpadham, resolving the Walayar checkpost issues through co-operation from the State Government, green channel at Walayar checkpost for self-sealed and Excise sealed containers, etc.
Senthilvel also requested to set up a Tea Park by the Tea Board at Cochin Port as adequate land is available which can be offered on mutually agreeable terms. He explained that setting up a Tea Park at Cochin Port would enable the exporters to reduce their logistics cost which in turn may increase their returns.
Paulrasu, Executive Director, Tea Board appreciated the efforts of Cochin Port for resolving the Walayar checkpost issues and running a dedicated train service to Vallarpadham from Irugur. Paulrasu said that there is a Tea Park at Mettupalayam and he assured that the setting up of a Tea Park at Cochin Port would be examined for which he would visit the Cochin Port shortly.
Senthilvel and Paulrasu addressed gathering of officials, exporters and logistic service providers, in the Tea Board Conference Hall. Senthilvel presented various initiatives taken by Cochin Port in making the business through Cochin Port better and efficient.
He pointed out of the 96,000 million kgs handled in South India, about 70,000 million kgs of tea is handled through Cochin Port. There is a weekly mainline direct shipping service from Cochin to various destinations at Europe, Middle East, China and other SAARC countries.
This gives exporters a savings of about 95$ per container and 7 days savings in transit time, since the direct services avoids the transhipment at neighbouring foreign ports. He also pointed out the new green channel facility at Walayar Check Post has created a very conducive situation for exporters from west Tamil Nadu region. Also Customs is extremely co-operative and operates on 24×7 basis.
The users requirement of more weigh bridges at Cochin of Verified Gross Mass (VGM) will be looked into. More interactive meetings with all stakeholders of Tea trade will be held in Cochin for facilitating easier and cost effective exports through Cochin.