Marayoor jaggery, jackfruit chips and Onam specials: First export container to sail from Vizhinjam port to Valencia

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first export container from Vizhinjam port with Kerala's favourite food products will sail to Valencia, Spain. The dry container of Nilamel Exports Company, which operates in Kinfra and Sasthamangalam in Thiruvananthapuram, will be loaded on the MSC MARIE LESLIE. Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan will flag off the export on the 18th. The ship will arrive from Mundra on the morning of the 28th, and will depart on the 29th. Containers from Thoothukudi, Kochi and Kollam and four containers from three companies in Thiruvananthapuram, have been booked for export.

Exports previously carried out through Kochi and Thoothukudi ports are now being carried out through Vizhinjam. It will take 28 days to reach Spain from Vizhinjam. The same would have taken 60 days via Colombo and Dubai, and via Kochi and Thoothukudi ports. In Vizhinjam, the export can be made directly to the mothership, and these ships sail straight to Spain.

MSC Shipping Company has announced two services for exports from Vizhinjam. These are the Himalaya Express to Portugal, Valencia, Barcelona in Spain, and Italy, and the India-Africa Service to the South-West African countries of Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan, Tema, and Lomé.

1. The first export container contains chips, mixture, tapioca chips, puttu powder, jackfruit chips and Marayoor Jaggery.

2. Kerala Sadhya, masala dosa, aviyal, curries, idli and sambar, which can be stored for a year, are being sent after being refrigerated at minus 40 degrees. Kerala food products are in high demand in America and Europe.

''The benefits of the port are being seen. Since there is no container freight station, a customs area has been set up at the port. The road to the national highway has also been completed""-V.D. Satheesan, Chief Minister