Posted on 22 June 2009. Tags: Cabotage, Container Shipping Company, Datuk Seri, East Malaysia, Foothold, French City, French Shipping, Liberalisation, Local Services, M Ali, Malaysian Government, Marseille Port, Ong Tee Keat, Peninsular Malaysia, Port Klang Free Zone, Port Of Tanjung Pelepas, Saade, Sea Ports, Sharidan, Transport Minister
MARSEILLE: Malaysia’s liberalisation of 27 local services sub-sectors, including the transport sub-sector, prompted French shipping giant, CMA CGM to mull over plans to strengthen its foothold in the country.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Ong Tee Keat had during a visit to the headquarters of the world’s third largest container shipping company in the French city last Thursday shared the Malaysian Government’s policy to liberalise the transport sub-sector, including the opening of 30% restriction in foreign ownership.
CMA CGM has had a presence in Port Klang since 1994 and is one of the largest customers of Port Klang. It has since June 1 also served the port of Tanjung Pelepas.
In welcoming the move, the company’s president Jacques R. Saade said “such liberalisation will change the strategy (of the company) in Asia.”
The shipping giant also welcomed Ong’s announcement of gradual liberalisation of cabotage of key sectors such as from Peninsular Malaysia to three major ports in east Malaysia, namely Sepangar, Kuching and Bintulu. (See also page 7)
Saade said the company would seriously explore the opportunities available from such a move. He also said the company would expand its dry port bonded warehouses, which include the Port Klang Free Zone.
Later, Ong visited the Port of Marseille, one of the oldest and busiest sea ports in France.
Marseille Port also raised its interest to establish an in-house university specialising in shipping and maritime as part of its education and training project.
Ong took the opportunity to test-drive its state-of-the-art port simulator.
Posted in RELATED NEWS
Posted on 22 December 2008. Tags: Balance Of Trade, Balanced Portfolio, Cma Cgm, Commodities, Container Shipping Company, Container Volume, Double Digit Growth, Foot Equivalent Units, Freight Rate, Global Economic Slowdown, Global Economic Turmoil, Managing Director, Manufacturing Products, New Developments, Port Klang, Ports, Sidelines, Target, Teu Vessels, Volume Growth
CMA CGM, the world’s third largest container shipping company, expects double-digit growth for its container volume at Westports next year despite the global economic slowdown.
The target is achievable with bigger ships coming into service, said CMA CGM Malaysia managing director Simon Whitelaw.
“We are projecting a double-digit growth for 2009,” he said on the sidelines of Symposium on Ports and Shipping New Developments in Port Klang on Wednesday.
The company, based in France, has registered 2.0 million TEUs (20-foot equivalent units) as on Tuesday, approaching the 2008 target of 2.1 million TEUs. Last year, it generated a volume of 1.7 million TEUs.
Among CMA CGM’s new bigger ships set to enter Westports are the 11,500-TEU vessels coming this week and the 13,500-TEU vessels in 18 months’ times.
According to Whitelaw, the company sees Malaysia as a big potential as the country has a balanced portfolio with commodities and manufacturing products as well as a steady balance of trade.
He said despite the current global economic turmoil, the company’s operations in China were not badly affected mainly because of its large office network in the country.
CMA CGM is also trying to maintain its freight rate at the right level although the market rate has dropped over the last few months, Whitelaw said. – Bernam
By : btimes.com.my
Posted in KELANG
