Trade welcomes India-Maldives cargo ferry service from Sept 20

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry has launched virtual road shows at three ports ahead of the launch of a direct cargo ferry service from Thoothukudi via Kochi to Maldives.

M Beena, Chairperson, Cochin Port Trust, who was the chief guest, said the cargo service has received a very good response from the trading community in Kerala especially from Malabar region.

The freight from Beypore and Azheekal ports is expected to reach Kochi by road and by sea to Mali. In addition, large-scale exporters from ports such as Kandla on the west coast to Mali via Kochi are expected.

India accounts for only 9.7 per cent of the Maldives’s total imports, so there is huge opportunity for Indian traders, she said.