PORT of Koper, a major seaport in Slovenia, aims to tap into new markets in South-East Asia by appointing Malaysia’s Infinity Logistics & Transport Sdn Bhd its port representative effective April 1.
This will be an addition to the port’s current key markets in the Mediterranean, Middle East and the Far East regions.
Port of Koper is a multi-purpose terminal that handles containers, vehicles, dry bulk cargo, liquid bulk cargo and general cargo.
Infinity Logistics managing director Chan Kong Yew said that via the agreement, the company would promote the port independently to bring substantial cargo volume from this region, especially Malaysia, to Luka Koper.
“The port is strategically located near the Atlantic Sea with huge markets beyond Slovenia that include Hungary, Austria, southern Germany, Czech Republic, the Balkan area, Ukraine and Russia,” he told StarBiz.
He said although Port of Rotterdam was a more popular choice for Europe-bound cargo as industrialisation had started there, of late businesses had been moving to the south, nearer to Luka Koper, at the heart of Europe.
The area has increasingly become the preferred manufacturing hub of Europe due to the lower labour cost and strong domestic demand.
Additionally, Luka Koper is well connected to the European hinterland via highways and rail.
“As the automotive industry is one of the main customers of the port, we are looking at the possibility of linking South-East Asia’s small and medium enterprises that support the automotive industry,” Chan said.
“We are also planning to provide the logistics connection for palm oil mill operators here to trade their palm kernel expeller and palm kernel cake there for farming purposes.”
Port of Koper president Robert Casar said the appointment of Infinity Logistics as its port representative in this region was to bank on the logistics company’s local know-how and expertise.
“This is to bridge the trade gap between the two regions as due to the economic downturn, certain cargo had recorded significant drop at our port. We need to tap into new markets and South-East Asia promises bright prospects,” he said.
Casar said another possible business venture was the export of crude palm oil to Europe via Port of Koper. Malaysia currently exports two million to 2.6 million tonnes of crude palm oil annually via another major port in Europe.
“We want to change this by providing more exposure on the capability, prospects and cost efficiency of our port in this region.
“Currently, the average annual throughput that comes from South-East Asia to Europe via our port is 8% to 9%. We plan to increase this via the agreement with Infinity Logistics,” Casar said.
Besides the excellent connection to the rest of Europe, the Port of Koper has also beefed up its infrastructure and equipment to enhance efficiency.
“Via our development plan that cost about 71 million euros that started last year, we have extended our quay length, procured additional quay cranes and built more warehouses.
“By early July, we can welcome post-panamax container vessels to our port,” Casar said.
On the performance of the port in the current challenging economic climate, he said the port had been growing quite robustly in the last decade with average annual tonnage growth of one million tonnes.
Last year, the port handled about 16 million tonnes of cargo.
“But we are unsure about growth this year due the global economic downturn. In January alone, our car handling volume has dropped about 40% on year-on-year basis,” he said.
This is the second agreement inked by Infinity Logistics as a representative of foreign ports in the South-East Asian region.
The first agreement was with PD Ports of Britain in late 2007.
This will be an addition to the port’s current key markets in the Mediterranean, Middle East and the Far East regions.
Port of Koper is a multi-purpose terminal that handles containers, vehicles, dry bulk cargo, liquid bulk cargo and general cargo.
Infinity Logistics managing director Chan Kong Yew said that via the agreement, the company would promote the port independently to bring substantial cargo volume from this region, especially Malaysia, to Luka Koper.
“The port is strategically located near the Atlantic Sea with huge markets beyond Slovenia that include Hungary, Austria, southern Germany, Czech Republic, the Balkan area, Ukraine and Russia,” he told StarBiz.
He said although Port of Rotterdam was a more popular choice for Europe-bound cargo as industrialisation had started there, of late businesses had been moving to the south, nearer to Luka Koper, at the heart of Europe.
The area has increasingly become the preferred manufacturing hub of Europe due to the lower labour cost and strong domestic demand.
Additionally, Luka Koper is well connected to the European hinterland via highways and rail.
“As the automotive industry is one of the main customers of the port, we are looking at the possibility of linking South-East Asia’s small and medium enterprises that support the automotive industry,” Chan said.
“We are also planning to provide the logistics connection for palm oil mill operators here to trade their palm kernel expeller and palm kernel cake there for farming purposes.”
Port of Koper president Robert Casar said the appointment of Infinity Logistics as its port representative in this region was to bank on the logistics company’s local know-how and expertise.
“This is to bridge the trade gap between the two regions as due to the economic downturn, certain cargo had recorded significant drop at our port. We need to tap into new markets and South-East Asia promises bright prospects,” he said.
Casar said another possible business venture was the export of crude palm oil to Europe via Port of Koper. Malaysia currently exports two million to 2.6 million tonnes of crude palm oil annually via another major port in Europe.
“We want to change this by providing more exposure on the capability, prospects and cost efficiency of our port in this region.
“Currently, the average annual throughput that comes from South-East Asia to Europe via our port is 8% to 9%. We plan to increase this via the agreement with Infinity Logistics,” Casar said.
Besides the excellent connection to the rest of Europe, the Port of Koper has also beefed up its infrastructure and equipment to enhance efficiency.
“Via our development plan that cost about 71 million euros that started last year, we have extended our quay length, procured additional quay cranes and built more warehouses.
“By early July, we can welcome post-panamax container vessels to our port,” Casar said.
On the performance of the port in the current challenging economic climate, he said the port had been growing quite robustly in the last decade with average annual tonnage growth of one million tonnes.
Last year, the port handled about 16 million tonnes of cargo.
“But we are unsure about growth this year due the global economic downturn. In January alone, our car handling volume has dropped about 40% on year-on-year basis,” he said.
This is the second agreement inked by Infinity Logistics as a representative of foreign ports in the South-East Asian region.
The first agreement was with PD Ports of Britain in late 2007.
Source: http://thestar.com.my/maritime/story.asp?file=/2009/3/23/maritime/3526264&sec=maritime, 23 Mac 2009
No comments:
Post a Comment