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The
shipping industry has
recorded 33 percent
growth in January, Sri
Lanka Ports Authority
Chairman Dr. Priyath B.
Wickrama said. He was
speaking at a seminar on
opportunities from port
development organized by
the Import Section of
the Ceylon Chamber of
Commerce last week.
Sri
Lanka will act as an
active hub in the region
with the completion of
port development
activities.
The
shipping industry
recorded continuous
growth last year. It
recorded 33 percent
growth in January this
year.
The
Colombo Port handled 4.1
million TEUs last year,
a growth of 19.4 percent
compared to 16.2 percent
growth by Shanghai, 9.9
percent growth by
Singapore and 12 percent
growth by HongKong. “The
Colombo Port performed
well last year and will
continue to perform well
this year too,” he said.
The
Magampura Mahinda
Rajapaksa Port will be
made a free port with
the legalization by
gazette notification by
next month. The tank
farm will be completed
in May and will be
commissioned by July.
It is
expected to start
bunkering this year at a
competitive rate to
attract new businesses.
Hambantota will be
developed as a well
planned port city that
provides services and
logistic facilities, Dr
Wickrama said.
There
are opportunities in the
trade and commerce
sectors and port
development will
facilitate continuous
growth momentum.
Sri
Lanka played a major
role in the world trade
in the past and could
re-position itself to
regain this situation.
“Port
development activities
will place Sri Lanka on
the world trade map and
the regional shipping
industry will play an
active role,” he said.
“We
need to plan and be
ready with port
development activities
to capture growing
global trade
opportunities. There is
a need to complete
infrastructure
development projects to
enable the establishment
of a hub status. The on
going port development
projects will be
completed fully by 2020
and the country should
attract business in
terms of volume and
revenue,” he said.
“Institutional
integration is important
for better and more
productive output
targeting wider market
penetration,” he said.
(DN-28022011) |
