Drydocks World, a DP World company has signed MoU with Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), driven by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, India to enable development of Ship repair clusters, synergising their mutual strengths. This is expected to bring global best practices to the Ship repair ecosystem in the country and add significant capacities. The MOU also provides for cooperation in potential offshore fabrication opportunities engaging other entities like major ports. This strategic collaboration will explore opportunities to develop ship repair clusters along India’s coastline leveraging the expertise of both organisations. The MoU was signed in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, Shri Piyush Goyal, Honourable Minister of Commerce And Industry, Government of India, His Excellency Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of DP World, and Mr Madhu S Nair, Chairman & Managing Director, Cochin Shipyard Limited at the CEO- Connect: Dubai-India Economic Ties & Opportunities event inMumbai. By fostering cooperation between Cochin Shipyard Limited and Drydocks World, the partnership will play a crucial role in modernizing India’s maritime infrastructure, expanding the ship repair industry and generating new employment opportunities.Aligned with the Government of India’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, the companies willjointly evaluate opportunities for: • Developing Ship Repair Clusters in Kochi (Kerala) and Vadinar (Gujarat) to create world-class maintenance and repair facilities. • Engaging with government entities such as major ports to enhance ship repair and offshore fabrication capabilities. • Expanding collaboration into related areas such as offshore fabrication, marine engineering, and strategic infrastructure projects.

DP World has commenced the construction of Bharat Mart, a global B2B and B2C marketplace in Dubai, designed to facilitate trade between Indian businesses and global markets. The company unveiled the virtual model of the project in the presence of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of the UAE, Shri Piyush Goyal, Honourable Minister of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, along with H.E. Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, GroupChairman and CEO, DP World. Bharat Mart is set to open by the end of 2026. With construction underway, DP World is paving the way for a transformative marketplace that will redefine global trade links between India, the Middle East, and beyond. Spanning 2.7 million square feet, with its initial phase covering 1.3 million square feet, Bharat Mart will serve as a key tradinghub for Indian MSMEs. Strategically located in Jebel Ali Free Zone (JAFZA). The facility will feature 1,500 showrooms, and over 700,000 square feet of state-of-the-art warehousing, light industrial units, office spaces, meeting facilities with dedicated space for women led businesses from India. Just 11 km from Jebel Ali Port, 15 km from Al Maktoum International Airport and with Etihad Rail access in closeproximity, Bharat Mart offers Indian businesses seamless access to a multimodal logistics network. Through Jebel Ali’s ecosystem, the exporters will connect to 150 maritime destinations, air and links to over 300 cities worldwide, enhancing market reach and efficiency. H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, said: “Dubai’s world-class infrastructure and connectivity make …

Tej Contractor, Director, Mayur C Contractor Logistics said, “In my opinion, the discontinuation of the Bangladesh cargo transshipment facility is a welcome move. With apparel exporters flagging congestion at airports and ports, prioritising Indian cargo ensures quicker turnaround and delivery for our exporters. This shift clearly benefits Indian trade, and I appreciate the proactive steps taken by department. It’s encouraging to see national interest being placed at the forefront to support our supply chain efficiency.”

Reacting on the latest news of India stopping transshipment facility for Bangladesh export cargo, Afzal Malbarwala, Managing Director, Galaxy Freight said, “Because of the heavy movement of cargo from Bangladesh to Delhi and Bangalore, the airlines charge high rates, which affects the Indian exporters, who, with the rate in India, are finding it difficult to move their goods. This change will rationalise freight rates, reduce transportation costs for Indian exporters, and ease airport congestion. Indian forwarders will now get more space for their exports. This is a government order, and Indian forwarders are happy to support their customers.”

Debajyoti Bagchi, VP Business Development, TT Group said, “Discontinuation of Bangladesh transit traffic through Indian LCS, presents a multifaceted impact beyond the evident geopolitical considerations. From an economic and operational perspective, this embargo at the LPAI Petrapole is expected to disrupt established vehicle demand planning cycles, particularly for routes connecting Petrapole to DEL, CCU, and BLR. The support personnel at the LPAI warehouse may experience a loss of supplemental income due to reduced operational throughput. Similarly, Customs House Agents (CHAs) may face a significant decline in workload related to the processing of BoTs, potentially affecting their earnings and employment stability. Conversely, Indian exporters who have previously raised concerns regarding congested terminal warehouses may benefit from increased availability of space for consolidation of export cargo. Airport security personnel, particularly screeners operating under the BCAS guidelines for shipments from third-world countries, may also experience reduced pressure. Additionally, this embargo could provide a competitive edge to Indian exporters, especially in the apparel sector, by mitigating external competition and potentially enhancing India’s export performance in key categories.”

Xerrxes Master, MD, Master Groups said, “India’s decision to halt the transshipment facility for Bangladeshi exports via its land borders and Delhi Air Cargo Complex aims to alleviate congestion and protect domestic exporters’ competitiveness. The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) highlighted that the influx of 20–30 Bangladeshi trucks daily into Delhi caused delays, increased air freight rates and strained logistics, especially amid the Red Sea crisis.  While this move may strain bilateral trade relations and affect Bangladesh’s export routes, it underscores India’s need to prioritize its economic interests and logistics efficiency.”  

Kamal Jain, Director, Cargomen Logistics affirmed, “India’s decision to stop the transshipment of Bangladesh’s export cargo, officially citing port and airport congestion, also carries economic and geopolitical significance. With U.S. tariffs impacting Bangladesh’s garment exports, India aims to bolster its own exporters by freeing up cargo capacity. The move is also seen in the context of Bangladesh’s growing alignment with China, prompting India to assert strategic control over regional trade routes. Like all nations, India is prioritizing its economic interests—ensuring smoother cargo flow while reinforcing its trade and diplomatic influence.”

Chaitaly Mehta, Director, EKF Global said, “Industry estimates suggest about 18 per cent of Bangladesh’s garment air cargo was being flown through Indian airports. Bangladesh exports roughly 3,400 tonnes of garments by air per week, with 600 tonnes flown through Indian airports with Inditex being one of the biggest importers. The congestion and chaos that had been created at the leading airports resulted in regular Indian exporters shipments being delayed, missing flights, delayed clearances, storage charges, increased air freight rates and no or little space on the aircraft. Bangladeshi goods were being given priority over Indian goods causing losses to Indian Exporters. To me, this move will help regularise the rates and let Indian exporters meet their deadlines and have their goods reach their buyers on time. Kuddos to GOI for listening to the Trade and taking steps to protect Indian exporters and India made goods.”

Rajen Bhatia, Director, Tulsidas Khimji said, “India’s move to stop the transshipment facility for Bangladesh’s export cargo will help ease port and airport congestion by reducing the volume of third-country shipments passing through Indian logistics hubs. This will free up space and resources, allowing for faster processing of domestic and direct international cargo. As a result, cargo flow will become smoother, turnaround times will improve, and overall operational efficiency in handling, storage and transportation will be significantly enhanced.”

C K Govil, CMD, Activair Airfreight said, “India’s decision to halt the transshipment facility for Bangladesh’s export cargo aims to reduce congestion at key ports and airports. This move is expected to streamline cargo operations, enhance port efficiency and ensure smoother handling of domestic and international shipments. By alleviating the pressure on infrastructure, it will improve turnaround times, optimise resource utilisation and contribute to a more efficient logistics ecosystem for both nations in the long run.”