VIJAYAWADA: Development of ports alone can help increase trade and commerce in hinterland and develop the state’s economy as a whole, opined the speakers at the workshop on Port-Based Development in Andhra Pradesh, organised by The Andhra Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation (ACCIF) in association with the Commissionerate of Customs - Vijayawada, on Friday.
Presenting a comparative picture of the revenues earned through customs from the sea ports in the state during the previous two financial years and the projected revenue earnings for the current fiscal, Customs Commissioner S Khader Rahman said customs earnings reflected the business carried through ports in the form of imports and exports.
“Admirable growth rate was registered at both Krishnapatnam and Kakinada ports, which fall under our purview. It has been around 44 per cent. Now with emphasis on doing ease of business and liberalising various procedures when it comes to different aspects of customs duties, import and export procedures, we can expect the trade through ports to increase and bring in more revenue and opportunities”, he said.
Rahaman concurred with the opinion of G Sambasiva Rao of ACCIF that exporters and importers in the state should be encouraged to use the ports so that the revenue share of the state could also improve.
Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) Joint Director General G Sita Rama Reddy, who took charge of DGFT - Vijayawada, said they were adopting ‘Make In India’ policy of the Central Government and explained about the transformation from regulators to facilitators. He explained in detail about the changes brought in in the last two decades, more so in the last couple of years, that had eased the export-import regime.
Kakinada Deep Water Port CEO AS Rao and Krishnapatnam Port Chief Advisor VVSN Murthy explained about the development of their respective ports, revenue growths and future prospects. While Rao said they expected an increase in revenues with the commencement of the container handling operations, expected to commence soon, Murthy said they expected the cargo-handling at Krishnapatnam to cross 100 million metric tonnes in the next couple of years and emerge as number one port on the country’s East Coast.