DP World Chairman and Chief Executive meet President Pratibha Patil

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman of Dubai World and DP World, accompanied by Mohammed Sharaf, Chief Executive Officer, DP World, met President Pratibha Patil recently when she was on a four-day official visit to the UAE.

Their talks focused on the important role DP World was playing in facilitating trade through the five marine terminals it operates across India.

The DP World Chairman briefed the President about the International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) of Vallarpadam in Kerala, which is scheduled to be inaugurated by the end of the year.

Top officials of DP World and senior aides accompanying the President were present at the meeting.

Sultan Bin Sulayem said, “India has always been an important commercial partner of the UAE and a preferred destination for DP World’s investments in port infrastructure.” He stressed DP World’s commitment to continue investments in India.

Sharaf stated, “DP World’s investments in India have been one of our major success stories. Our developments and expansion in five Major Ports on India’s East and West Coasts follow a unique pattern of integrated management that promote the port business and bring direct benefits to the local communities.

“As a global economic power with a rapidly expanding domestic market, India offers immense potential for growth in the maritime sector. DP World is privileged to be a partner in this progress,” he added.

DP World operates container terminals at Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Mumbai and Mundra.

Vallarpadam will be the largest single operator container terminal in India and the first in the country to operate in a special economic zone (SEZ).

The new terminal is expected to make Cochin an important centre in the shipping world, reducing the country’s dependence on foreign ports to handle transhipment.