Vizhinjam International Seaport : Poised to drive a new wave of regional economic transformation |
Vizhinjam International Seaport has handled a record number of ships and containers since July 2024, but the formal dedication of the port to the nation by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday is set to be a landmark event, signalling a new era of development in south Kerala.
The port is expected to trigger large-scale growth in and around Thiruvananthapuram, especially in sectors like logistics, transportation, warehousing, and allied industries. A port official confirmed that export-import (exim) cargo movement by road will commence soon, pending a minor adjustment in the highway design.
“If land becomes available, the port will develop its own logistics parks. For now, the state govt has already planned a range of initiatives to boost economic activity in the region,” the official added. However, these developments will roll out in full only after the port is completely operational by 2028.
A state govt official stated that the Vizhinjam Economic Growth Triangle, which aims to connect Vizhinjam with Kollam and Punalur, is part of a broader strategy to increase employment, attract industries, and stimulate economic development across southern Kerala. The govt is also considering the expansion of the national highway to extend the port’s economic benefits as far as Ernakulam.
There is significant interest in exim cargo operations, especially from the Tirupur textile industry. “Currently, cargo is routed through Tuticorin and Colombo to reach global markets. With Vizhinjam offering a weekly jade service to Europe, traders can now export directly, boosting the port’s competitive advantage,” a port official explained.
Sources revealed that many traders have already shifted to using Vizhinjam, bypassing traditional ports like Colombo, Mumbai, and Chennai-resulting in considerable cost savings.
Minister for ports VN Vasavan said the port’s natural depth allows large ships with deep drafts to dock with ease. “The arrival of vessels like MSC Turkiye-which has not stopped at Dubai or Colombo-shows that Vizhinjam has secured its place on the global maritime map, less than four months after beginning commercial operations.”
Since trial runs began in July 2024, the port has handled approximately 260 ships and nearly 5,00,000 containers. Encouraged by strong interest from shipping companies, Vizhinjam officially launched commercial operations in Dec.
