The Cochin Port Trust has urged the Tea Board to set up a tea park at the Port. The request came during the meeting between the Chairman of the Cochin Port Trust, G. Senthilvel, its marketing advisor Dr. P. Tamilvanan and its deputy traffic manager Girish Thomas with the executive director of Tea Board C. Paulrasu recently in Connoor.

Setting up a tea park, they felt, would enable the exporters to reduce their logistics cost that in turn would increase their returns. Also adequate land area was available for the purpose, they said.

Paulrasu lauded the Port’s efforts in resolving the Walayar check post issue and running a dedicated train service between Vallarpadham and Irugur. He told the visiting delegation that their plea would be examined and for that he would visit the port at the earliest.

Later, addressing the officials, exporters and logistic staff in the Tea Board premises, Senthilvel outlined various initiatives taken by the Cochin Port to ensure smooth and efficient business transactions. Out of the 96,000 million kilos of tea handled in south India, 70,000 million kilos are handled by the Cochin Port alone, he added.

Currently, there is direct shipping service to various destinations in Europe, Middle East, China and other SAARC countries from Cochin. “Exporters are able to save $95 per container because of this, since transhipment in neighbouring countries is avoided,” he added.

He also pointed out that the new green channel facility at Walayar check post has created a conducive situation for exporters from west Tamil Nadu.