World’s biggest container shipping line to increase container handling business in Sri Lanka
The office of Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena has reportedly stated that Maersk A/S, the world’s biggest container shipping line, is considering increasing its container handling business in Sri Lanka.
The announcement was made following a discussion held between Maersk Chief Executive Officer Soren Skou and President Sirisena at the Presidential Secretariat last week.
Skou had reportedly briefed Sirisena on the line’s expansion plans for container handling, a statement has said.
The statement has further noted that President Sirisena has said the government would facilitate multi-national companies such as Maersk A/S to expand container transshipment through the Port of Colombo as that would be of immense help to Sri Lanka’s economy.
Maersk handles 20 percent of the Twenty Foot Equitant Unit containers (TEUs) at the Port of Colombo and a big chunk of Sri Lanka’s import and export freight.
Skou has stated that Maersk’s business partner, South Asia Gateway Terminals Pvt Ltd., is holding discussions with the Ministry of Ports and Shipping and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA) regarding the expansion of container transshipments in Sri Lanka.
According to Skou, a large segment of transshipments through the Port of Colombo is for the Indian subcontinent.
OSL take:
The announcement by the Sri Lankan President’s office of Maersk line’s intentions of increasing container handling businesses in the Colombo Port of Sri Lanka is a definite boost for the island nation’s ports and shipping sectors. The Sri Lankan government is committed to making Sri Lanka reach hub status in the Indian Ocean region. The confidence shown by key international shipping lines indicates the positive growth in Sri Lanka’s maritime sector. Therefore, foreign maritime companies could explore business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s ports, shipping and logistics sectors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20190305/Z_5 |