Stakeholders in the liquid bulk business discussed various challenges confronting the trade and brainstormed strategies for future growth.
AILBIEA (All India Liquid Bulk Importers and Exporters Association) celebrated its 16th anniversary in April this year at Hotel Trident. The august gathering included senior officials from the Customs Department, port officials, top corporate houses engaged in liquid bulk trade, noted industrialists including Nadir Godrej, Godrej Industries Ltd and a large gathering of stakeholders in the liquid bulk business, under the auspices of AILBIEA discussed various challenges confronting the trade and brainstormed strategies for future growth.
Highlighting the strong correlation between economic growth and commodity consumption, AILBIEA Advisor, senior journalist and agribusiness and commodities market specialist G. Chandrashekhar asserted that the country’s consumption of liquid bulk cargoes is set to expand because of strong GDP growth.
In his welcome address, AILBIEA President, Jayant Lapsia referred to some of the recent achievements of the association with respect to addressing the operational issues faced by importers and exporters. He urged the revenue authorities to trust the members of the association who were generally known to uphold ethical standards. He also expressed optimism that the country’s liquid bulk trade covering crude oil, vegetable oil, chemicals and others will continue to expand in the wake of strong GDP growth and demand.
Dignitaries from the revenue side who shared their views with the delegates included Rajiv Tandon, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai and SK Das, Principal Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai. The meeting was chaired by Nadir Godrej, Managing Director, Godrej Industries Ltd and co-chaired by Rupesh Agarwal, Director-Procurement South Asia, Hindustan Unilever Ltd.
The Chief Commissioner Customs, Mumbai, Rajiv Tandon, highlighted the various initiatives of his department to promote, facilitate and expedite clearance. This included deferred payment of customs duty and the Authorized Economic Operator Scheme. He also referred to the proactive role of AILBIEA, particularly that of the President Jayyannt Lapsiaa, in working closely with the department.
The Principal Commissioner of Customs SK Das spoke on the various initiatives undertaken by Customs department. He complimented AILBIEA for the proactive role and also their support in promoting AEO scheme amongst their members.
Rupesh Agarwal assured the Customs Commissioners of the Trade coming much closer to the department’s call on various issues and also to closely interact with the department.
Raj Chandaria, Managing Director, Aegis Logistics Ltd. spoke about the high standards set by Aegis in their operations at various installations, spread over five ports. “Plans were on anvil to expand the presence in more ports”, he added.
Anil Yendluri, CEO and Director, Krishnapatnam Port Co. Ltd. gave an overall view of the Port, giving details of the state of the art infrastructure and other salient features of the port.
The highlight of the meeting was the conferment of “AILBIEA LIFE TIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD” on Nandlal Chawla, Managing Director, AAK Kamani Pvt. Ltd. The honours were done by Rajiv Tandon, Chief Commissioner of Customs, Mumbai and SK Das, Principal Commissioner of Mumbai by presenting a silver lamp and a citation. Nadir Godrej, MD, Godrej Industries felicitated Nadlal Chawla with a colourful shawl.
