Milaha Rolls Out First Direct Qatar-India Service
Milaha Maritime and Logistics, a subsidiary of Milaha Group, launched its first direct container service, known as the Nhava Sheva Doha Express (NDX), between Qatar’s Doha port and India’s port Nhava Sheva in Mumbai.
The new service will facilitate the growing trade activities between the two countries by enabling direct shipments without the need for transshipment in Jebel Ali or elsewhere, thus reducing costs. The non-stop service will connect Qatar’s Doha port with India’s largest port Nhava Sheva, also known as Jawaharlal Nehru Port, located in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Trade between Qatar and India has seen impressive growth in recent years, with Qatari imports from India nearing a billion dollars in 2014, and this new service is likely to drive that further.
The new direct service between Doha and Nhava Sheva will operate on a weekly loop and will enable shippers to bypass transhipment in major hubs such as Jebel Ali, increasing reliability and reducing transit time and costs.
With an end of the week sailing, Indian exporters will also benefit from a late cut-off, providing more time to bring cargo into the port.
Moreover, the new service may open up a shipment market for new perishable commodity segments which – due to the previous transit time – were not an option.
“We express our thanks to the Jawaharlal Nehru Port for their support in reinforcing bilateral relations between Qatar and India,” said Khalifa Ali Al-Hetmi, president and CEO of Milaha. “The launch of a fast and direct container service by Milaha will support the increasing trade volume, where imports into Qatar from India reached a total value of USD 989 million in 2013-2014.”
The new service, which is named NDX, will not only bolster Milaha Maritime & Logistics’ feeder commitment to the Indian market, but also increase Milaha’s presence in non-vessel operating common carrier activities. In addition, the new non-stop service will strengthen the company’s existing feeder network with the UAE with more fixed connections.
Milaha Maritime & Logistics is a leading provider of comprehensive solutions in logistics and marine transport to the region’s biggest players in oil and gas and petrochemical as well as shipping, importing and exporting companies.
