Will Seek Lower Import Duties on Dredgers: Shipping Minister G K Vasan.

CHENNAI: The Indian shipping ministry will take up with appropriate authorities the issue of reducing customs duty on import of dredgers while it awaits details on standards of training imparted in Belgian maritime institutes for according mutual recognition, a minister said Friday.

Speaking at a meeting with the Belgian delegation led by Kris Peeters, minister-president of the Flemish government, Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan said: "Dredging could be a major area of co-operation between Belgium and India in the sector of port development.

"As per Eleventh Five Year Plan of India, the country faces a total capital dredging requirement of almost 298.28 million cubic metre in all the major ports by March 31, 2012," he said.

India is leaving no stone unturned to attract overseas companies in the area of dredging, Vasan said.

On the issue of reduction of customs duties on dredging equipment, Vasan assured the Belgian delegation that the matter would be taken up by his ministry at appropriate levels for its resolution.

On the issue of mutual recognition of certificates of training issued by maritime training institutes of India and Belgium, he said as per a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by India and Belgium in 2005, certificates of competency issued by Indian maritime administration were to be recognised by the Belgian authorities.

On the issue of India recognising the Belgian training certificates, Vasan said appropriate decision will be taken once the Indian director general (Shipping) gets particulars about the standard of training imparted by Belgian maritime institutes.

Vasan said Belgium is the second largest trading partner of India in the European Union with annual bilateral trade turnover amounting to euros 10.4 billion in 2010.

"India is the fifth largest exporter to Belgium and second largest importer of Belgian products in 2010," he said.

As India and Belgium have strong trade relationships, there are ample possibilities for Belgium and India to work together on Port Development projects among other areas of cooperation.

Speaking on the occasion, Peeters said he has come to India leading a trade delegation representing 38 Belgian companies.

Source : economictimes.indiatimes.com