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NEW DELHI JAN 16:AIR INDIA reportedly has plans to sell its entire fleet of six Boeing 737-200 freighters in a bid to reduce operating costs while increasing revenues as the ailing airline looks to wrap up its loss-marking cargo business.

The decision to pull out of the air cargo trade comes as the government looks to finalize a deal that would secure an additional Rs 66 million ($1.2 billion)aimed at reviving the cash strapped carrier.

In a further bid to raise funds it has also been reported that Air India plans to sell eight aircraft engines,four auxiliary power units,spare parts from the six freighter planes.

There is no figure gives as to how much corpus the carrier hoped to raise through the sale of aircraft and equipment.

NEW DELHI DEC 11:IN a bid to make special economic zones (SEZs) more competitive and attractive to foreign investors the Ministry of Commerce has recently debated be allowed to sell domestically at reduced Customs duty.

The move was aimed at resurrecting investment in SEZs as they had become less the appealing to investors due to the partial withdrawal of tax incentives this fiscal.Following the suggestion in a discussion paper a pitch extending export incentive to SEZs,bringing them has also been prepared.

The Commerce Secretary Dr Rahul Khullar clarified that the ministry was yet to make a formal stand on promoting Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) sales from SEZs.He added that the moment it was just proposed for discussion and that views had been invited to ascertain the future course of action.

A discussion paper on potential amendments to the existing SEZ policy has been prepared by the SEZ division of the Commerce Department and is in public domain for wide stakeholder consultation.

India has an edge over other countries due to its large and ever-growing domestic market However the existing SEZ policy calls for foreign direct investment (FDI) for setting up units that have to adhere to an export access to domestic market.

While SEZ units are allowed to sell in the DTAs, heavy Customs duties are levied on sales as there regions are demand foreign territories.The discussion paper also stated that a reduction in DTA sales duty to the tune of 50 per cent of total exports made by a unit could serve as a means to attract FDI in the manufacturing sector.,Concessions could be based on the export-oriented unit policy.

The Commerce Department has proposed that the slashed customs duties applicable on foreign products through India’s free trade agreements (FTA) should also be applied to SEZ products making them more competent and enabling them to with stand the competition from the FTA partners.

       NEW DELHI, APR 6:  JN Port has handled highest-ever4.061 million TEUs of container traffic during fiscal 2009-10, surpassing the previous best of 4.059 million TEUs achieved in 2007-08, up 2.75 pc.

        Of the total container traffic, GTI contributed 1.75 million TEUs (43.16 pc) NSICT 1.53 million TEUs (37.72 pc) and JNPCT 0.78 million TEUs(19.12 pc).

        The port handled 60.75 million tonnes of total cargo during tonnes of total cargo during 2009-10 against 57.30 million tonnes handled in 2008-09. The growth in total traffic during the financial year under review was 6.02 pc over the previous year. The share of containerised cargo was 53.08 million tonnes (87.38 pc), liquid cargo 6.63 million tonnes (10.91pc) and the remaining 1.04 million tonnes (1.71pc) was miscellaneous types of dry bulk cargo break bulk cargo/vehicles, said Mr S S Hussain addressing representatives of the trade and media for the last time as Chairman at the Port’s administration office.

     He pointed out that he had to face the difficult period of the recession, but expressed happiness went up from 46 million tonnes when he took charge to above 60 million tonnes and that box traffic had reached its highest -ever level.

    He stressed that a number of port development/infrastructure augmentation projects were in different stages of implementation. including his pet integrated parking plaza project which would ensure that no trailers would have to wait on the roads.

    The Chairman Incharge, Mr Niraj Kumar, lauded Mr Hussain’s vision for the port and his policy of achieving success for the port while also addressing social and environmental concerns.

   Earlier, Mr S. K. Kaul, chief Manger (Administration) and Secretary, disclosed that the port had got in-principle approval from the government to develop a SEZ/EPZ, which would complement the 4th container terminal and the 330 m standalone terminal.

   The port was currently placed 25th among the world’s box ports he added.

    Acquisition of 3 Super post-Panamax rail mounted quay cranes (RMQCs) by replacing three old RMQCs acquired in 1989. The work has been awarded to Doosan Heavy Industries and Constrution Company Ltd, Korea, in December 2009. The new cranes are expected to be commissioned by March 2011. these cranes will be 0.15 million TEUs per annum.

   As regards  shifting of two old RMQCs from main container berth to the shallow draught berth, the proposed budget estimate has been sent to the Ministry for approval. The capacity addition due to these cranes will be 0.3 million TEUs per annum.

   Acquisition of one Super Post-Panamax rail mounted quay crane was awarded to Doosan Heavy Ind in August 2009. It is expected to be commissioned by November. capacity addition to be 0.15 million TEUs per annum.

   Acquisition of one rail mounted gantry crane (RMGC) to replace an old RMGC acquired in 1989. Doosan Heavy Industries expected to commission the crane by February 2011.

  The port has identified the following two projects for development under public private partnership (PPP). To construct a standalone container handling facility with extension of berth by 330 m to the north, with estimated capacity of 800,000 TEUs per annum at an estimated cost of Rs 600 crore. The Port received 8 RFQ applica tions in February this year and they have been kept in a sealed cover in safe custody cover in safe custody as per the project is scheduled for completion by November 2012.

    Development of 4th contaier terminal and marine chemical terminal in two phases at an estimted cost of Rs 6,700 crore with capacity of 4.8 million TEUs  The port received 9 RFQ applications on Dec 31, 2009. which are kept in a sealed cover in safe custody as per the directions of the Court. Phase I of the project is scheduled for completion by 2010-13 and phase II by 2013-15.

   To meet the increasing demand of the trade for berthing deep-draught vessels, deepening and widening of the MUmbai harbour channel and JN port channel is being taken up. After completion of the project, the port will be able to handle container vessels of up to 14 m draught with capacity of 6,000 TEUs using the tidal window.