India and the Port of Rotterdam are exploring digital customs procedures to speed freight evacuation and reduce ship turnaround times as trade expands.
India and the Port of Rotterdam are working together to digitalise cargo handling in a bid to speed up freight evacuation and cut the time ships spend in port, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday. Speaking to reporters after visiting the Dutch port and meeting its chief executive, Boudewijn Siemons, Goyal said customs authorities in India and Rotterdam were looking at ways to bring Indian procedures closer to modern global standards.
Goyal said India has already doubled its port capacity over the past decade, but that further expansion is still needed if the country is to keep pace with economic growth and rising trade flows. He suggested that capacity will need to increase sharply again by 2047, when India marks 100 years of independence, as the country positions itself for higher GDP growth and more international commerce.
The minister also pointed to the India-EU free trade agreement as a potential boost for businesses on both sides. According to the reports, he said the deal could open substantial opportunities for Indian and European companies, especially if logistics and port efficiency improve alongside tariff liberalisation.
In Amsterdam, Goyal addressed members of the Indian community and urged professionals and academics to build links with Indian institutions and help mentor start-ups. He also told young people to be more responsive and responsible, adding that loyalty should lie first with the country that provides work and supports a family.
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