Chennai port in pact with Canada port

The Chennai Port Trust on Wednesday signed a sister port relationship agreement with Canada-based Port of Halifax.

The agreement would cover exchange of experts, technical cooperation in port management covering operations of container terminals, exchange of knowledge, tourism development and development of trade between the two ports, said K Suresh, chairman, Chennai Port Trust.

It may be recalled that CPT had signed a similar agreement with Belgium-based Port of Zeebrugge in November 2008. The co-operation extended to all aspects of port activity and transfer of technology between the two ports.

Karen Oldfield, president and CEO, Port of Halifax, said of the 1.5 million container traffic handled at Halifax, 35 per cent comes from South East Asia and one third from India. The port (Halifax) wants to increase the share as part of its marketing effort.

The port’s would target automobile exporters who are focussing on North America, Toronto and mid-west of the US.

The MoU would enlarge the scope of cooperation between the two ports and enable active interaction between the management and personnel of the two ports for their mutual benefits. The Chennai port, in particular, will draw on the available expertise in Halifax Port in the field of containers, car carriers and cruise vessels, said Suresh.