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A delegation lead by G K Vasan, Minister of Shipping will be visiting Japan from Friday and during the delegation, major infrastructure projects, including Rs 7,500 crore port project, in Tamil Nadu are to be discussed, according to the Ministry of Shipping.
The delegation which will visit Japan till 12th will have discussions with the Japanese Government for better coordination between two countries and to enhance the Japanese interests in utilising the facilities of Indian Ports, more particular of Ennore and Chennai Ports, according to the Ministry of Shipping statement.
The delegation would also be visiting the Port of Yokohama and Port of Nagoya to see the port operations and the latest technologies being utilised in these two Ports. During the visit, Vasan will also have discussions for obtaining JICA funding for Rs 7,500 crore Outer Harbour project of VOC Port, Tuticorin in the Southern tip of Tamil Nadu.
Japanese automobile manufacturing companies like Toyota, Mitsubushi, Isuzu, Nissan and Toshiba are using Chennai Port for importing automobile components through containers for their factories located in Chennai. The Japanese Company Metal One (Mitshubishi group) is importing steel coils used for automobile through Chennai Port in the break bulk form.
Around 240 Japanese companies have developed business in and around Chennai in the last decade.
Japanese Companies have been also evincing a lot of interest in using Ennore Port. At present, Nissan Motors India and Toyota are the major Japanese Companies using the Ennore Port facilities for their export. Nissan Motors has exported about 3 lakh cars from Ennore Port, while Toyota has so far exported 42,000 cars from the Port.
Government of Japan has shown interest in developing Chennai Bengaluru Industrial Corridor as part of Penninsular Region Industrial Development (PRIDe). Ennore Port has been identified as a main logistic hub in industrial corridor development. JICA has already commenced the study.
This delegation, consists of Vishwapati Trivedi, Secretary (Shipping), R Srinivasa Naik, Director, M.A. Bhaskarachar, CMD of Ennore Port Ltd. and other officials of Ministry of Shipping will also visit Kyoto and Osaka and will meet Government officials and business leaders during their visit.
