Mangalore, Jun 6: The Air Cargo Complex at Mangalore International Airport, which became operational in May, 2013, has received a lukewarm response from entrepreneurs and local business organizations.
KCCI President Mohammad Ameen believes a few tweaks to enhance the convinience of exporters will draw more customers. “It is not that entrepreneurs are not interested to export through air cargo, but that they are facing certain obstacles in the process. With no system in place to remit the customs duty at the Mangalore Airport, the agents are forced to go to the Customs House at Panambur to pay the charges, much to their inconvenience. Issues in giving license for sea food export too has become an hindrance,” he said.
The lack of space for goods in passenger planes is also an issue, Ameen pointed out and requested the cooperation of all departments to solve the existing issues.
The air cargo, has the capacity to handle 250 tonnes of export cargo per month, however at present it is handling less than 40 tonnes of export cargo and 20 tonnes of import cargo. The cargo handled in Mangalore Airport comprises mainly of fruits and vegetables which are exported to West Asia, a small quantity of fish and spare parts is also exported.
J T Radakrishna, director of MIA admitted that a few problems exist. Firstly only Jet Airways has made arrangements to transport the cargo and only 1.5 tonnes of cargo can be transported in each flight. However he believes that the biggest concern is the indifferent attitude of exporters and entrepreneurs. “All facilities are present here, even 50-60 contracts at a time is not an issue but entrepreneurs are not cooperating,” he said. He also added that an ETA connection can be made to facilitate payment of customs duty in the Airport itself if enough traders are willing to transport goods through MIA.
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