Patil briefed on Vallarpadam terminal during UAE visit

Dubai, Nov 29 (PTI) Indian President Pratibha Patil was
given a briefing on the International Container Transshipment
Terminal being set up by DP World in Vallarpadam, Kerala,
during her recent five-day visit to the UAE.
DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem briefed the
President during their meeting last week, the details of which
were made public on Sunday.
The deepwater terminal at Vallarpadam is scheduled to
open by the end of this year.
Vallarpadam will be the largest single container terminal
in India. The new terminal will make Kochi a key centre in the
shipping world, reducing India's dependence on foreign ports
for handling container transshipments.
Dubai World said in a statement that their talks focused
on the historic and friendly relations between the two
countries and the important role DP World played in
facilitating trade through the five marine terminals it
operates across India.
"India has always been an important commercial partner of
the UAE and a preferred destination for DP World's investments
in port infrastructure. Our upcoming development in
Vallarpadam is an example of this," Sulayem, who is also the
chairman of DP World, said.
"We conveyed to Her Excellency, President Pratibha Patil,
our commitment to continue to invest in India. Her visit
further cements our relationship," he said.
DP World Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Sharaf said
India has been one of the company's major success stories.
"Our developments and expansion in five major ports on
India's East and West coasts follow a unique pattern of
integrated management that promote the port business and bring
direct benefits to the local communities. As a global economic
power with a rapidly expanding domestic market, India offers
immense potential for growth in the maritime sector. DP World
is privileged to be a partner in this progress," he said.