Vizhinjam Port begins full-scale EXIM operations as first export container flagged off | WATCH

Thiruvananthapuram: The Vizhinjam International Seaport in Kerala has commenced full-scale export-import (EXIM) operations, marking a major milestone in the state's maritime and economic development.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan flagged off the first export container at a ceremony held at the port on Tuesday.

The commencement of full-scale EXIM operations marks Vizhinjam's transition from a transhipment hub to a major commercial gateway for India.

On the occasion, the state government also launched ‘Mission Samudra’, a port-led industrial and logistics development initiative aimed at developing Vizhinjam as the anchor of a wider Vizhinjam Maritime Economic Region.

In an X post, the CM said that the state government held strategic discussions with diverse investor groups to explore key opportunities for scaling EXIM operations at Vizhinjam to the next level.

"To ensure seamless commercial expansion, the government is committing comprehensive support, regulatory facilitation, and infrastructure backing to help investors expand global export activities through the port," he said.

"The same Arabian Sea, which has shaped our nation for centuries and welcomed travelers from all over the world with open arms, is today opening the historic door to the development of a new era Keralam. Let us move forward together into the new era of prosperity that Vizhinjam opens," Satheesan said.

The proposed region will encompass eight industrial clusters, three new cities and Kerala's 600-km coastline, with the government seeking to develop a broader port-led economic ecosystem around Vizhinjam.

The initiative is backed by a Rs 400-crore catalytic fund, with allocations across three major verticals — ports and connectivity, logistics development, and clusters and cities.

A separate horizontal component will focus on programme management and capacity building. According to the government, Mission Samudra will be implemented through a total of 14 sub-schemes.

The move towards full-fledged EXIM operations comes after the successful completion of a trial run involving the port's first export container. The container was shipped from Vizhinjam to Valencia in Spain as part of the trial.

With the commencement of full EXIM operations, Vizhinjam is expected to strengthen its role in India's maritime trade and emerge as a key gateway for international cargo movement.

The development is also aimed at creating a wider port-led industrial and logistics ecosystem around Vizhinjam, linking maritime infrastructure with industrial clusters, logistics facilities and new urban development.

The launch of Mission Samudra alongside the commencement of EXIM operations is expected to provide a broader framework for Kerala's plans to leverage Vizhinjam's strategic maritime position for industrial and economic development.