MISC RAMPS UP ITS INDIAN OPERATIONS

By P.Vijian

NEW DELHI, Nov 27 (Bernama) -- MISC Berhad is gearing to refocus its liner
business in Asia next year, with India as its priority, largely spurred by
significant growth of the sector.

By increasing more ports of call in India and the South Asia region, MISC is
looking to position itself as the preferred carrier in the intra-Asia and
Oceania region.

"We are expanding in key strategic markets and will focus more on
intra-Asian trade, India and China.

"Freight is growing in this region.We will be looking more to the Indian
sub-continent as well," Baharuddin Arbak, MISC vice-president (Liner Business)
told Bernama in Delhi.

Earlier this year, MISC signed a joint venture agreement with Crescent Shipping
Agency India Ltd, its third party agent, to form MISC Agencies India Pvt Ltd, to
spearhead its Indian operations.

In October, MISC added another milestone when the carrier connected the two
major growing economies -- China and India -- with its Halal Express Service 2.

Its first vessel arrived in Chennai Port in late October.

"This service offers the fastest transit to China from the east coast of India,
in nine days to Shanghai, as against the other lines offering 13 days.

"This revised halal service loops two promises to be a mega success," said Capt.
B. Mahapatra, general manager of MISC Agencies India.

On Friday MISC India opened its new office in Delhi, the second after its Mumbai
headquarters.

Besides India, the Malaysia-based carrier, plans to intensify its existing
services in Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka next year.
--BERNAMA