Kochi: A cruise ship service from Kochi to Dubai will start soon, announced Minister for Cooperation and Ports Minister V N Vasavan on Wednesday. 

The steps for this are in progress, he said, adding that two agencies have been selected for this purpose.

An amount of Rs 12 Crore will be spent for this in the first phase, the Minister said. 

He was speaking after flagging off the first container of 12 tonnes of value-added agricultural products of the Co-operation Department to be exported to America at the Vallarpadam Container Terminal.

Work is underway to commission the Vizhinjam Port as soon as possible, he said. The trial run will begin soon. A total of 32 cranes have been delivered from China. Works on container berths and breakwaters are complete. Construction of the bypass and road are in final stages, he added.