Milaha Express Container Service 'Will Boost Qatar-India Trade'

Doha, March 22 (QNA) - Direct shipments between Doha Port and Mumbai's Jawaharlal Nehru Port will boost bilateral trade between Qatar and India, the Qatari maritime and logistics company Milaha has said. Qatar-based Milaha Group subsidiary Milaha Maritime and Logisticshas announced the launch of the first direct container service named Nhava Sheva Doha Express (NDX) between Qatar and India earlier. The non-stop weekly service will connect Qatar's Doha port with India's largest sea port Jawaharlal Nehru Port, also known as Nhava Sheva located in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The move will further boost the thriving trade activities between the two countries, Milaha said. Unlike existing services in the market, the new weekly service by Milaha will enable direct shipments between Nhava Sheva and Doha without the need for trans-shipment in Dubai's Jebel Ali or elsewhere. This move will increase reliability, reduce transit time and costs, Milaha said. With an end of the week sailing, Indian exporters will benefit from a late cut-off providing more time to bring cargo into the port. With a reduced transit time, shipments of perishable products for the Qatari market will retain better freshness and quality. The new service may open up for new perishable commodity segments which - due to previous transit time - were previously not an option, Milaha said. Milaha President CEO Khalifa Ali Al Hetmi, President and CEO of Milaha said, "The launch of a fast and direct container service by Milaha will support the increasing bilateral trade volume. Imports into Qatar from India reached a total value of US $989 Million in 2013- 2014." Jawaharlal Nehru Port Chairman-in-Charge Neeraj Bansal said, "The commencement of operation at Nhava Sheva's Shallow Water Berth (SWB) has opened new business opportunities for handling smaller vessels, operating particularly from the Gulf region. "We have allotted a fixed window slot to Milaha Maritime and Logistics to operate the NDX service. We extend our full cooperation to the company to make use of the mechanized facility at SWB and benefit the trade between both countries." The new NDX service will not only bolster Milaha Maritime and Logistics' feeder commitment to the Indian market, but also increase Milaha's presence in non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) activities. The new non-stop service will strengthen the company's existing feeder network with the UAE with more fixed connections, Milaha said. (QNA)