Port of Amsterdam looking at opportunities in Chennai

Chennai:

Port of Amsterdam is now looking at opportunities for investments in India, including the city of Chennai, with the focus more on building barges, inland terminals and dry ports.

Speaking here after an interactive session organised by Southern

India Chamber of Commerce and Industry here on Tuesday, the head of the Port of Amsterdam delegation and the port's chief operations officer Koen J Overtoom said that the port is now targeting BRIC nations and more particularly India.

"India is an important market for us. The delegation is currently

studying opportunities for investment," said Koen.

He said the delegation is currently visiting all the ports for cargo

matches. "If we get the right terminal, right shipping line and cargo,

we will be investing in India," said Koen.

"We are looking at new businesses and Chennai has lot of

possibilities," he said. He also revealed that Mahindra is keen to

export its electrical cars from India to Europe.

Koen said that Port of Amsterdam is looking for long term investment and that too a sustainable one. He also showed a keen interest over the barge terminals linking Ennore Port and Chennai Port.

Koen said that barge would reduce the cost of transporation besides it will cause less pollution. He also highlighted the need for

cooperation and knowledge sharing between ports so that all of them could be used optimally. "Currently, what one port does, the other is unaware about it," he said.