Taking note of the shortage of containers to export sugar, India is planning to manufacture containers on a large scale and develop the shipping line under the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme. The step is aimed to boost the exports of sugar and other items from the country. At present India is solely depending on the Shipping Corporation of India, the public sector company.
The issue of shortage of containers had surfaced recently when the sugar exporters had raised the issue of the lack of containers to export sugar.
According to the news report published in Economic Times, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has already set up a committee to study the feasibility of manufacturing containers at Bhavnagar in Gujarat.
India was depending on the containers from China for the export of goods but the geopolitical situations, shortage of containers and other reasons have impacted exports and the stakeholders have to bear the burden of freight hike. The increase in political tension between India and China has resulted in India lowering imports from China.
Ajay Sahai, director general, Federation of Indian Export Organisation said, “As we are focusing on boosting export and reducing imports, we need to address the issue of containers at the earliest.”
