Colombo: Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) have begun operations at the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT), an ultra-modern facility that is set to redefine Sri Lanka's maritime trade. The CWIT project, a gigantic investment of $800 million, is Sri Lanka's first fully automated deep-water terminal, expected to handle nearly 3.2 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEU) every year. Situated right at the heart of the Indian Ocean, the terminal has been technologically built with the capacity of 1,400 meters of quay length and a depth of 20 meters, which will allow it to work with larger vessels and much more efficient cargo handling.
The terminal came about as a visionary PPP between India's largest port operator Adani Ports, Sri Lanka's largest conglomerate John Keells Holdings PLC, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA). The development was completed under a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) framework for 35 years, showcasing the growing economic and strategic relationship between India and Sri Lanka.
Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, lauded the terminal's inauguration as a landmark example of regional cooperation and a giant step for Sri Lanka gaining prominence as a transshipment hub in South Asia. The terminal will generate thousands of jobs, supported economic growth, and unlock significant value for the island nation.
Apart from this, the terminal validates the Adani Groups ability around the world to deliver large infrastructure projects with great efficiency. CWIT, on the other hand, is a symbol of what can be achieved through strong international collaboration.
The CWIT is expected to provide operational efficiency and enhanced regional logistics as Sri Lanka seeks to establish itself on the global maritime map, thereby increasing its contribution to global trade connectivity. Furthermore, its rapid completion is a testament to the collaboration between India and Sri Lanka and is a yardstick for other major future projects.
[Source Credit: NDTV]
