Kochi goes global as International Container Transshipment Terminal is inaugurated
Published February 11, 2011 | 
Kochi has been placed in the elite league of maritime trading nations with the opening of the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal, which was dedicated to the nation today. OEL Dubai became the first cargo vessel to enter the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT) to ink a new chapter in the global maritime trade.The total cost of the first and second phase of the terminal is expected to be around Rs 6,250 crore.
Kochiites are truly delighted at the completion of the first phase of the International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT), after a long wait. It will bring in lot of employment opportunities to this city and will mark an increase in the exports and imports from the Port. Touted as one of the most modern ports, Kochi will be a preferred choice for traders all over the world for its quick cargo handling facilities. The commissioning of the transshipment terminal will also bring in an impetus for many industries such as tea, rubber and cash crops of Kerala About 1,100 container lorries are expected to pass through Kochi for ferrying cargo and it will result in a flurry of activities in all sectors of economy .
Kochi will emerge as one of the most favoured destinations in the world with this feat. The hospitality industry across the state will be hugely benefited as the demand for hotels and boarding facility will increase manifold with a large number of people from all over the world frequenting the city. The logistic sector also is expected to make an exponential growth and will throw open more employment opportunities as cargo handling will require huge manpower. The project, which will be operated by Dubai Port World (DPW),would make Kochi a key player in the maritime industry and would reduce India’s dependence on foreign ports for its trans-shipment requirements.
To catch up with the immense opportunities that ICTT would bring to this city, Kochi will have to work against the clock to ensure good roads and supporting infrastructure to ensure the benefits that this terminal will bestow. Kochi indeed has done us all proud by going global!
Coir exports all set to scale new heights
Published February 26, 2008 | 
Alappuzha: Coir and coir products have always been major revenue earners of Kerala, touted as the land of coconuts. Alappuzha is the major hub of coir production in Kerala with almost 80 per cent of the coir factories in the State located in this district. The newly launched Alappuzha Coir Cluster Development project, with a plan outlay of over Rs. 56 crores, is expected to bring relief to the limping coir industry, plagued by many problems including shortage of raw materials, lack of modernization to bridge the gap between the production and supply demands, inadequate R & D facilities for the development and diversification of its by-products like coir pith and so on.
Coir Cluster Development project forms part of the ambitious plan of the Coir Board to raise coir export turnover to Rs.1,000 crores by 2008. It is expected to enhance the optimization of coconut husk and setting up of industries to use up coir pith to make blocks and manure among others.
Most of the export units of coir production centres are centered in and around Cherthala and Ambalappuzha taluks of Alappuzha district. The cluster help in the setting up of husk collection banks for the pooling in of coconut husks otherwise discarded or wasted, establishment of units for fibre extraction, coir yarn production and coir mats and matting units, including power loom units. It would ensure an additional 20000 employment opportunities for women.
High level delegations from many foreign countries regularly visit the Coir Board’s Central Coir Research Institute and coir industries to learn more about the innovative technologies being employed in these units.
A high level delegation from China visited Coir Board on Monday and also visited coir producing centres in Alappuzha and Trikunnapuzha and discussed various matters of the development of coir industry in China. Better technological utilization and higher exports of Coir is sure to bring in a sea change in the economy of Kerala in general and the coastal hamlets of Alappuzha in particular.