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For Immediate Release: February 22, 2012
Contact: Mary Trupo (202) 482-3809
Exports Promoted Through pact Between Ports of baltimore and Mundra
Obama Trade Official Leads Trade Mission to India
AHMEDABAD, India – Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez today witnessed the signing of a sister-port Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Port of Baltimore and the Mundra Port. The MOU was signed by Adani Port SEZ (APSEZ) Director Malay Mahadevia and Port of Baltimore Director of Maritime Commercial Management Michael W. Miller.
“The two way trade between India and the U.S. grew to $58 billion in 2011, and we expect an upward trend to continue in 2012,” said Sánchez. “This MOU is a perfect example of the U.S. and India working together to meet India’s infrastructure needs while supporting American jobs. I look forward to helping promote strategic partnerships such as the one formalized today.”
Sánchez is in Ahmedabad for the second stop of the Department of Commerce’s first-ever ports and maritime technology industry trade mission to India. The Port of Baltimore is one of 12 U.S. organizations participating in the trade mission. The mission will conclude in Mumbai February 24.
Maritime transport is important to India’s external trade and presents lucrative opportunities for U.S. companies that offer products and services in the maritime transport sector. The Mundra Port is located on the northwest coast of the state of Gujarat. India’s largest private port, it was developed by the Adani Group and commercial operations commenced at Mundra in October 2001. The Mundra Port has state-of-the-art facility, capable of handling and warehousing several types of cargo at their multi-purpose terminal.
The Port of Baltimore is among the top ports in the U.S., handling around 30 million tons of cargo and 400,000 containers annually. Its inland location makes it the closest Atlantic port to major Midwestern population and manufacturing centers, and provides immediate access to the 6.8 million people in the Washington/Baltimore region, the nation's fourth-largest consumer market.
This trade mission is the first in a series of events planned for 2012 designed to expand U.S. export opportunities within India’s infrastructure sectors. Commerce Secretary John Bryson will lead a high-level trade mission to Delhi, Jaipur, and Mumbai, March 25-30. It will be Bryson’s first mission as Commerce Secretary.###
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