India, Dutch port authorities weigh digital push to boost logistics: Piyush Goyal

Rotterdam: India’s customs authorities and the Port of Rotterdam are working to digitalise processes to speed up cargo evacuation and reduce ship turnaround times, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday following his discussions with the chief executive of Europe’s largest seaport.

Goyal and Port of Rotterdam CEO Boudewijn Siemons held discussions on advancing port-led growth, logistics efficiency, supply chain connectivity and unlocking new opportunities for trade and investment. “As India modernises its existing ports and develops state-of-the-art maritime infrastructure, there is immense potential to collaborate with the Port of Rotterdam, draw on its expertise and strengthen India-Netherlands cooperation,” Goyal said.

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The visit highlighted the strategic importance of Rotterdam, the Netherlands’ second-largest city, as a gateway for Indian goods entering the European market and a vital hub for international trade and global supply chains. According to the minister, customs authorities in India and the authorities at the Port of Rotterdam are discussing how to introduce modern standards to accelerate cargo clearance and reduce vessel turnaround times.

“Despite doubling our port capacity over the past decade, India still needs more capacity. By 2047, we expect port capacity to double twice over the next two decades to support GDP (gross domestic product) growth and international trade,” Goyal said. “As we modernise existing ports and develop state-of-the-art facilities, we see great opportunities to work with the Port of Rotterdam, learn from its experience and strengthen cooperation between India and Europe.”

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The minister’s visit to the Netherlands comes as India and the EU are expected to sign their free trade agreement (FTA) by the end of this year, with the pact likely to be implemented in 2027. “We focus on carbon capture and green energy that offers significant environmental benefits and opens new opportunities for green energy trade... India, the world’s fastest-growing large economy, has developed high standards of quality, efficiency and productivity,” Goyal said. The programme also highlighted opportunities for stronger collaboration in maritime logistics and other areas of mutual interest, including in the context of the India-EU FTA and closer economic integration between India and Europe.

“The minister’s visit to the Port of Rotterdam underscored the Netherlands’ strategic importance as a gateway to Europe, particularly in the context of the India-EU FTA,” the commerce and industry ministry said in a statement. The FTA, it said, is expected to create significant new opportunities for Indian exporters, the Netherlands’ worldclass ports, logistics infrastructure and connectivity with European markets can play an important role in facilitating increased trade flows and strengthening India-Europe supply chains.