MSC creates Mobile Game to raise awareness on sustainability in Shipping

GENEVA: MSC is pleased to announce the launch of a first-of-its-kind shipping game: The Sea Rider, said a recent release from the company.

Available on the Apple Store (for iOS) or Google Play (for Android) for everybody, the game provides fun, engaging entertainment for the users, who can navigate a giant container ship, collect coins and gather points.

While featuring MSC’s green fleet including some of the World’s Largest Container Ships and the actual MSC Global Network of some 200 ocean services worldwide, the game also provides insights into MSC’s environmental performance and sustainability approach.

Users will not only learn about some of the company’s activities around preserving the environment, but practically they will have to sling the ship from one port to another while minimising the environmental impact. This might include adapting the vessel speed, or avoiding whales.

Conducting shipping operations in a sustainable, ethical way MSC is a responsible company with a longstanding nautical heritage and passion for the sea. As an active member of the United Nations Global Compact, and supporter of the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, MSC is pleased to introduce The Sea Rider game as a way to raise awareness on the importance 

of conducting container shipping operations in a sustainable way.

Recently, the company published its 2018 MSC’s Sustainability Report highlighting some key achievements from various companies in the MSC Group. To download a copy, please go to msc.com/sustainability.

Portall Infosystems inks MoU with IOS Partners, Florida

MUMBAI: Portall Infosystems Pvt Ltd and IOS Partners, Florida are working together to explore diverse business opportunities across the world in the maritime shipping and logistics sector.

This association will bring global best practices to technology offerings in the maritime and logistics space; backed by the right policy and legal framework.

The new partnership will bring about much needed transformation in the shipping and logistics sector.

Prime Minister highlights efforts to improve Ease of Doing Business in India

NEW DELHI: The members of US India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) called on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, New Delhi. The delegation was led by Chairman, USISPF, Mr. John Chambers.

Prime Minister highlighted the steps taken by his Government to improve the Ease of Doing Business in the Country when members of the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) called on him here.

The Prime Minister also referred to the evolving start-up ecosystem in the Country, highlighting the entrepreneurial risk taking capacity of India’s youth.

Modi talked about steps taken to ensure ‘Ease of Doing Business’ including reduction of corporate tax and labour reforms.

He also outlined that the target of the Government is to ensure ‘Ease of Living’. He said the unique strength of India is the availability of three Ds – democracy, demography and ‘dimaag’ (brains).

The delegation expressed faith in Modi’s vision for the Country and said that the next five years of India will define the next twenty five years of the world, the statement said.

The USISPF is a non-profit organisation, with the primary objective of strengthening the India-US bilateral and strategic partnership through policy advocacycy in the fields of economic growth, entrepreneurship, employment-creation and innovation.

India's First Woman Captain, Radhika Menon honoured by Govt Of India under Bharat Ki Laxmi campaign October 23 , 2019

NEW DELHI: The Indian Government recognised Captain Radhika Menon under the Bharat Ki Laxmi campaign initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Captain Menon, who is the first female master mariner had won the top international bravery award by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) for 'Exceptional Bravery at sea 2016'. She was recognised recently, under the Bharat Ki Laxmi campaign which was announced by PM Modi on September 29, during the 57th episode of 'Mann Ki Baat' to honour the extraordinary achievements of women in society.

Captain Radhika Menon is the first woman captain of the Indian Merchant Navy who received the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in 2016. The IMO, which is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for the safety and security of shipping and the prevention of marine pollution by ships, conferred Captain Menon with bravery award to honour her for rescuing seven fishermen from a sinking fishing boat in tumultuous seas in the Bay of Bengal in June 2015. Captain Radhika Menon first started her career as a radio officer at the Shipping Corporation of India and established the International Women Seafarers Foundation (IWSF) in 2017 to help young women pursuing a career in maritime. Menon has made her mark spectacularly in a male-dominated profession and proven that professions are not gender-based. 

Konkan Railway looking to transform itself as “complete logistic service provider”

MUMBAI: Faced with challenges of declining freight traffic and the impact of economic downturn, the Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd (KRCL) is looking at transforming itself into a “complete logistic service provider” even as it strives to look for new revenue streams in areas of its expertise — railway engineering and technological innovations.

“The company is striving hard to convert itself into a complete logistics service provider. This is a sunrise field where I find lots of revenue is available without much of expenditure, and the profit margin is very very high. The backbone of Konkan Railway can definitely be used to exploit logistic advantages which we have got,” 

H D Gujrati, Director, Operations and Commercial, KRCL, said in his address at the 29th Foundation Day celebrations of the Corporation 

recently.

Towards this end, Gujrati pointed out, Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) has set up a container terminal at Balli in Goa. “Once the (required) clearance is available, probably export-import traffic will start moving on that route,” he said.

KRCL’s Roll-on Roll-off (Ro-Ro) service has been extended upto Karambeli near Vapi in Gujarat on the Western Railway, he informed. 

“We are negotiating with the Indian Railways to make it a permanent service,” Gujrati said.

Govt likely to extend benefits to exporters under MEIS till March 31 October 23 , 2019

NEW DELHI: The Government may extend benefits to exporters under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) till March 31 next year, when the updated Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2020-2025 will go live. The current deadline for the scheme to be disabled is December 31, 2019.

The Government is also considering key suggestions such as introduction of industry rates for deemed exports and removal of pre-import conditions requirement in the Self Ratification Scheme. The suggestions have emerged out of hundreds of meetings between the Government and Industry Associations, people in the know, said.

Adding an array of agricultural products in the interest equalisation scheme and making extensive changes to schemes such as Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) and Export Credit Insurance Scheme are also under consideration for the upcoming FTP, sources said.

The decision to extend MEIS benefits is expected to draw the biggest cheer from the industry, 

which had opposed its withdrawal. Last month, the Government had announced a new scheme named Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) to replace the MEIS for all goods exports.

Introduced in 2015 under the FTP, the mega MEIS was created out of a merger of five existing reward schemes. It incentivises merchandise exports of more than 8,000 items now and is the biggest of its kind. Exporters earn duty credits at fixed rates of 2 per cent, 

3 per cent, and 5 per cent, depending upon the product and country.

Officials said the new RoDTEP would also be based on this method but the rates were yet to be decided.

For the EPCG scheme, the Government is considering removal of annual average and keeping only specific export obligations. Also, total exports of a third party will be counted as export obligation instead of only proceeds realised from third party by EPCG holder.

Apart from taking a decision to soon implement the recommendations of the Baba Kalyani Committee on revamping Special Economic Zones, policymakers have turned to export oriented units (EOUs) to provide the next level of growth. While duty benefits for infrastructure may not be extended, policy formulation, regulation, and administration may be brought under one roof for EOUs.

For deemed exports, the Government may allow a reintroduction of all industry rate for drawback, which is now limited to only the brand rate. The Centre may also include central excise duty on fuel in the drawback. However, a suggestion to double the rate of interest on delayed payment to 12 per cent from the present 6 per cent may not be allowed, sources said.

On the other hand, for the advanced authorisation scheme, composition fee may be rationalised while norms may be fixed at a faster rate. The new FTP is expected to have new chapters on services and e-commerce.

Govt likely to extend benefits to exporters under MEIS till March 31

NEW DELHI: The Government may extend benefits to exporters under the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme (MEIS) till March 31 next year, when the updated Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) 2020-2025 will go live. The current deadline for the scheme to be disabled is December 31, 2019.

The Government is also considering key suggestions such as introduction of industry rates for deemed exports and removal of pre-import conditions requirement in the Self Ratification Scheme. The suggestions have emerged out of hundreds of meetings between the Government and Industry Associations, people in the know, said.

Adding an array of agricultural products in the interest equalisation scheme and making extensive changes to schemes such as Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) and Export Credit Insurance Scheme are also under consideration for the upcoming FTP, sources said.

The decision to extend MEIS benefits is expected to draw the biggest cheer from the industry, 

which had opposed its withdrawal. Last month, the Government had announced a new scheme named Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Products (RoDTEP) to replace the MEIS for all goods exports.

Introduced in 2015 under the FTP, the mega MEIS was created out of a merger of five existing reward schemes. It incentivises merchandise exports of more than 8,000 items now and is the biggest of its kind. Exporters earn duty credits at fixed rates of 2 per cent, 

3 per cent, and 5 per cent, depending upon the product and country.

Officials said the new RoDTEP would also be based on this method but the rates were yet to be decided.

For the EPCG scheme, the Government is considering removal of annual average and keeping only specific export obligations. Also, total exports of a third party will be counted as export obligation instead of only proceeds realised from third party by EPCG holder.

Apart from taking a decision to soon implement the recommendations of the Baba Kalyani Committee on revamping Special Economic Zones, policymakers have turned to export oriented units (EOUs) to provide the next level of growth. While duty benefits for infrastructure may not be extended, policy formulation, regulation, and administration may be brought under one roof for EOUs.

For deemed exports, the Government may allow a reintroduction of all industry rate for drawback, which is now limited to only the brand rate. The Centre may also include central excise duty on fuel in the drawback. However, a suggestion to double the rate of interest on delayed payment to 12 per cent from the present 6 per cent may not be allowed, sources said.

On the other hand, for the advanced authorisation scheme, composition fee may be rationalised while norms may be fixed at a faster rate. The new FTP is expected to have new chapters on services and e-commerce.