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Mansukh Mandaviya, minster for shipping, informed on Wednesday that the cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the new ‘Major Port Authority Bill 2020’ that will give independent decision making power to all 12 major ports in the country.The port will have a corporate style management structure and will be free to fix port charges.The bill that is all set to be introduced in the current session of parliament will replace the 'Major Port Trusts Act, 1963'.

The new law aims to ease settlement of disputes among port users, speed up decision making in land acquisitions and tariff changes, minimise operation and maintenance (O) cost, increase exports from the country and make Indian ports competitive in international markets with new technologies.“Under the 60 years old existing act, all major ports has to approach the government and related regulatory authorities to take even the smallest decision which tampers the operations and existence of state owned ports, particularly when they want to compete with private ports,” said Mansukh.

 From April 16, Ethiopian export cargo gated in Djibouti Ports and Free Zones Authority (DPFZA) will be granted free terminal handling charges for 60 days, an official statement by DPFZA stated.“We hope the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea will be fully open to business with the world by then.

We encourage international shipping lines (since export is free onboard), inland transporters (railways and road transport companies) and freight forwarders to make a goodwill gesture as well.

Let us pull on the same direction,” Aboubaker Omar Hadi, chairman DPFZA said.Recently, the authority has denied rumours published on various media platforms regarding Ethiopian cargoes entry being restricted in Djibouti.

The company stated that there are no such restrictive measures imposed to disrupt the supply or transit of cargo.

It further said that “Ethiopia is a brotherly country and Djibouti has always shown its resolute commitment and determination to maintain this strategic and sisterly relationship”.Meanwhile, on April 7, Djibouti's ministry of health received medical equipment in response to Covid-19, donated by DPFZA and China Merchants.

This included 1,00,000 face masks, 300 PPE, 20,000 sets of gloves, among others.