The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) on Monday said it expects imports to get back to normal from the end of August while exports have already picked up, seeing an increase in the shipments last month.
According to a release by JNPT, the port reported a 19% spike in overall traffic to 4.85 million tonnes in July over June, while container traffic rose to 3,44,316 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) during the same period, registering a growth of 19% over June 2019.
The port in the month of July handled a total of 196 vessels, it said.
JNPT Chairman Sanjay Sethi said, “In July, we have seen exports increasing and expect even the imports to get back to normal by the end of this month. There were few ups and downs but we have managed to keep the operations up and running.”
He added that JNPT is the first port where port-led economic development is evolving successfully and “we are confident of attracting leading global companies for investing here at JNPT SEZ”.
JNPT which is continuously growing its performance month over month even during the pandemic, started a dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC) at JNPT Hospital to cater to JNPT beneficiaries and the local community. Earlier in June 2020, JNPT had also converted its Multi skill training centre into COVID Care Centre to serve the local community and fight the novel virus.
Earlier this month, the port among its many achievements also received the operational status for India’s first multi-product special economic zone (SEZ).
The two units, OWS LLP and Krish Food Industry (India) have completed their first phase of operational activity and have been declared as operational units by Development Commissioner, SEEPZ, SEZ. Apart from the first two companies, three more companies are likely to commence their construction activities soon.
In another development, Hindustan Infralog Pvt Ltd (HIPL), a joint venture between DP World and NIIF, has announced an investment of INR 1,000 crore to develop the NSBP, a free trade and warehousing zone (FTWZ), at JNPT.
The project will be completed by the end of 2021 and provide a seamless experience for both domestic and international traders at the port.
Once operational, the FTWZ project will contribute to establishing India as a major trade and manufacturing hub, and support the government’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ programme.
