Port of Houston Authority Approves Agreement

HOUSTON: The cities of Houston and Mumbai, India, share a number of common interests.  Among them are world-class ports.  Taking a step that will bring a closer relationship, the Port of Houston Authority (PHA) passed a proposal to sign a Memorandum of Friendship and Trade Cooperation with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT).  Sutapa Ghosh, accompanied by Ellen Goldberg and Atul Badwal, made the presentation to Chairman Janiece Longoria and Port Commissioners at PHA’s final meeting of the year.  According to the agreement, the two sides “will work together to develop and expand mutual understanding and cooperation, to share technical and professional expertise regarding port administration and development, and to promote greater economic benefits for both.”

Preparation for the agreement began in April, 2013, when Ghosh, the Founder and Festival Director of the Indian Film Festival of Houston, led a delegation to JNPT.  With her were John Mosley from the Port of Houston, along with representatives from KBR, BP, and other organizations.  The Chairman of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, N.N. Kumar, sent a letter to the Port of Houston in August 2014 for the Memorandum of Friendship and Trade Cooperation
Jawaharlal Nehru Port is ranked 31st among the Top 100 Ports in the World.  It is India’s #1 container port and is poised to handle 10 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) by the year 2020 – 21.  The year 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the Houston Ship Channel and the 25th anniversary of the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust.  Currently, trade between India and the Houston-Galveston district ranked #13 in terms of Total tonnage and #3 in import TEUS (Twenty-foot equivalent units).

Both sides expressed keen optimism in expanding the relationship between PHA and JNPT based on this memorandum of friendship and trade cooperation.