Rajasthan ideal location for shipping container hub: MSME-EPC

• Rajasthan has a huge potential to become a ‘cluster of shipping containers’ to bridge the widening demand-supply gap as currently India is manufacturing only 10,000 shipping grade containers per year as against the requirements of 1,50,000 containers in the next three years.
• Currently, the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has a fleet of 3,700 containers, but the entire fleet catering to the domestic segment is imported to China.
• Hence, Rajasthan has a huge potential of becoming a cluster of shipping containers’, a study conducted by the MSME-EPC revealed (Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises–Export Promotion Council).
• “While the global shipping container market is growing at a CAGR of 12 per cent, by 2028, it is likely to touch Rs 1.75 lakh crore. India has a shortage of shipping grade containers as a result of which shipping lines often increase their rates phenomenally severely impacting India’s export/import supply chain and competitiveness of industry,” MSME-EPC said.

CONCOR

• It was incorporated in March 1988 under the Companies Act and commenced operation from November 1989.
• From its humble beginning, it is now an undisputed market leader having the largest network of 81 ICDs/CFSs in India (73 terminals and 8 strategic tie-ups).
• In addition to providing inland transport by rail for containers, it has also expanded to cover management of ports, air cargo complexes and establishing cold-chain.
• It has played an important role of promoting containerization in India through its modern rail wagon fleet, customer friendly commercial practices and extensively used Information Technology.