Indian Freight and Logistics Group Sign Up With Amsterdam

NETHERLANDS – Freight levels having been depressed in certain trades and geographical areas many of the leading players in the logistics industry have been concentrating their hopes on the BRICS economies and one country from that group, India, is seen as a possible source of traffic growth by at least one of the leading European port authorities. With this in mind the Port of Amsterdam recently arranged a visit to the country during which a seminar on port logistics was held.

An Amsterdam trade delegation included the city’s mayor Van der Laan with the intent of intensifying existing economic relations and ensure new Indian businesses develop an interest in Indian/Dutch relations and at the end of the seminar the Port of Amsterdam’s president and CEO, Dertje Meijer signed an agreement with the Samsara Group, a major shipping agent with 54 offices in India.

Given the developments taking place across the world, and the emerging economies in India among other countries, the Amsterdam port is seeking to work more closely with Indian representatives. The economy in this part of the world is expected to increase by 9 to 10% annually. A substantial part of this growth will follow from import and export activities and the port is particularly keen on developing oil, chemistry, agricultural bulk, mixed cargo and container traffic which the port executives say are ideally suited in view of the types of vessel necessary to carry such cargoes.

The Samsara Group is an international prominent player and part of the Sharaf Group. The latter is a major multi-industrial conglomerate from Dubai and winner of the International Shipping Agent Award 2010. Samsara is an all-round logistics group that is actively involved in inter alia liner agencies, automobile logistics, chartering, inland container terminal operations and heavy cargo transport. Also, the Samsara Group is shipping 1.2 million TEU annually using its own trains to reach customers across this large continent. Joining hands with Samsara will allow the Amsterdam port to use India’s major network. Samsara’s representatives will be visiting the Amsterdam port in the near future.

As usual emphasis was made during the recent visit on Amsterdam’s insistence that all port activities proceed without damaging the quality of the water, soil and air. This is a mantra which is heard constantly when dealing with this, the fourth port in Europe, with sustainable growth being its key ambition and watchword.

Photo: Port of Amsterdam. Samsara Group’s CEO Mukesh Oza (third from left) signed an agreement with the Port of Amsterdam’s president and CEO Dertje Meijer (second from right). The mayor of Amsterdam, Van der Laan, was also present (second from left).