Time to Expand Lanka Port, Says Maersk
By Aiswarya Lakshmi
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Boosting Sri Lanka’s international investment profile, the world’s largest shipper Maersk Line is moving for Sri Lanka entry.
The Danish multinational Maersk Line has been the world’s largest container shipping company since 1996. It operates 604 container vessels across the world and calls on 343 ports in 121 countries.
New Delhi based Danish Ambassador for Sri Lanka Peter Taksøe-Jensen revealed the Maersk Line's breakthrough entry plans for Sri Lanka when he paid a courtesy call on Sri Lankan Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen.
He was joined by the Leading Lankan Businessman and Danish Honorary Consul General in Colombo Harold (Harry) Jayawardena and a visiting New Delhi based Danish embassy official.
“The political developments in Sri Lanka are very interesting to follow. Still we also need to focus on bilateral economic objectives” said Danish Ambassador Taksøe-Jensen.
Taksøe added: “Some of the largest Danish multinational firms are interested in investing in Sri Lanka. The world’s largest container shipper Maersk Line is a Danish firm. I am pleased to say that it is planning to enter Sri Lanka and looking to invest in a new container facility and join the Colombo port expansion-and set up a warehouse facility as well."
Minister Bathiudeen said Colombo Port now ranks among the top 35 ports in the world and the only South Asian port that can handle above 10,000 TEU mark.