Sravan Shipping on expansion mode, plans 2 more CFSs in AP

Source:http://www.portwings.in/articlesinterviews/sravan-shipping-on-expansion-mode-plans-2-more-cfss-in-ap/

Port Wings News Network:

Mr. G.Sambasiva Rao, Managing Director, Sravan Shipping Services Pvt Ltd,

Given the consistent growth in port-related business in the region, we are planning to develop two more container freight stations (CFSs) in Andhra Pradesh in next two years, Mr. G.Sambasiva Rao, Managing Director, Sravan Shipping Services Pvt Ltd, has said.

In an exclusive interview to Port Wings, Mr Sambasiva Rao said, “The business potential will double after the completion of second CFS near Gangavaram Port in the near future, a reality by the end of 2015. Krishnapatnam CFS is the third making inroads by the first half of 2017.”

“I am very optimistic about achieving this goal. With additional CFSs and Logistics space coming up, we will provide the much needed back up support infrastructure,” he added.

Excerpts…

Q. Tell us about the Sravan Shipping Services?

G Sambasiva Rao: “As an entrepreneur, I have the satisfaction of having created an organization of 1200 people by setting up first Container Freight Station in private sector in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh in 2004 having 10 lakh Sq. ft. covered warehouse( including customs bonded) space & 25 lakh sq. ft open storage space with business verticals of stevedoring, Custom House Agency, Shipping agency, Clearing & Forwarding, cargo handling & warehousing and Transportation with end-end logistics services based on a robust foundation of innovation, people, values, and customer-centricity.”

Q. Will you share your entrepreneurship journey like how it began?

GSR: “An entrepreneur is a person who undertakes and operates a new venture, and assumes accountability for the inherent risks associated with it. An entrepreneur is one who made significant progress in translating his insight into reality. I saw the big picture for end-end-logistics with having world class CFS first in the private sector in AP and warehousing facilities with ISO 9001-2008 Quality standards in and around East coast of India. It helped me to ring-fence the ripples of contemporary developments.”

Q. Tell us about the growth of Brand Sravan over the years?

GSR: “Buoyed by the initial success, I aggressively built SRAVAN brand and even now keep our customers sharply in focus. It helped me to open the right doors for Sravan Shipping Services Pvt Ltd. My ability to discern the direction of change and steering the ship well in time is keeping the company ahead of competition. After putting SSSPL on a steady growth course, now I am focusing on charting out the “next horizon” for the company. In that role, I am working on not only seeing the future but also in preparing SSSPL to thrive in that future. Tirelessly, I am moving on the vision for the organization with basic parameters like how to achieve on time performance and reliability that is springboard to success.”

Q. Share your experience in building the Brand Sravan?

GSR:  “Looking back today, I believe my sincere efforts contributed as much to my success as anything else. The journey so far for me has been full of thrilling moments and disappointing times, as is the case with any entrepreneurial venture. Only unbridled passion would help you to pass through the rigor and pains that are part and parcel of any start-up process. I strongly believe business excellence is all about creativity. Growth can be seen from the way the business looks with new thoughts and new segments are lined up for expansion.”

Q. How do you see the new government and its initiatives?

GSR: “India is a huge country but if everybody works in their respective districts and focuses on the development of that district, we will have balanced and well distributed growth. There is no stopping India from becoming one of the major forces in the world by 2020. Yet more needs to be done. We have to cut down a lot on licenses and bring the Single Window Policy to realization. We need to train more skilled manpower (not only engineers, graduates and post-graduates).”

Q. In your view, which sector could foster entrepreneurship skills in youth?

GSR: “I firmly believe that educational institutions can help foster entrepreneurship, which is why I want to  involve with the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Programmes in educational institutions  — a business Incubator where ideas from students and alumni can be commercialized. I am excited by the potential and drive in today's generation of aspiring entrepreneurs and very optimistic about the future of entrepreneurship in India. Entrepreneurship is all about passion and a vision. You don’t require only money to build great businesses. You require looking beyond, seeing the future and just grabbing the opportunity and then having a lot of perseverance.”

Q. What is your message to the budding entrepreneurs?

GSR:  “This is a good time to be an entrepreneur in India. Today, we have successful role models, India is growing rapidly, economic liberalization is going on in full swing, and India enjoys a favorable positioning as a brand in the global markets. Government policy is increasingly becoming progressive and the business environment is more conducive, which is a very welcome development because India needs many more entrepreneurs across industries if it has to achieve and sustain the kind of growth we as a nation seek. There is no business in the world that is non-profitable but everybody has not been able to build profitable businesses. There are risks and so also rewards. Patience is important. Any business that makes money overnight will not have strong fundamentals.”

Port Wings Editorial: Welcome Move, but ensure proper spending on tracks

Source: http://www.portwings.in/editorial/welcome-move-but-ensure-proper-spending-on-tracks/

The decision by the Life Insurance Corporation of India to invest about 1.5 lakh crore in Indian Railways is a welcome move indeed.

Even though the LIC has been investing in public-sector firms for the past several years, the latest decision committing a whopping 1.5 lakh crores for the growth of Indian Railways, another public sector transport institution linking every nook and corner of the country and ferrying huge quantity of freight and lakhs of passengers every day, has once again proved that LIC is the most dependable automated teller machine for the government.

It is worth recalling here that LIC manages assets worth Rs 13 lakh crore which is equal to 15% of India's gross domestic product of Rs 85 lakh crore. Its investment in government-owned companies as on May 2012 was about Rs 1 lakh crore. This is the first time that LIC has unveiled its intention to invest such a huge amount for a single entity.

LIC, a Government of India enterprise founded in 1956, is the largest life insurance company and also the largest investor of the country.

Over the years, LIC, which had been patronized by one and all with numerous policies and registering upward revenue year after year, was facing difficulty in managing the ever-accumulating funds.

After a thorough analysis of options before the Corporation, LIC decided to invest those extra funds to get good returns.

However, its policy to invest in share market met with stiff opposition from the policy holders, who decried that it was an ill-advised move.

With its market-linked policies proved a trap, LIC slowly withdrew from the markets and started focusing on government companies.

One may argue that considering LIC's huge corpus, these investments in PSUs, are like a drop in the ocean. Thus, they do not present substantial risk to policyholders.

But this does not give LIC the right to overlook policyholders' interest and make investments on their whims and fancies.

It is very important now that the money is spent judiciously. Otherwise it would further deteriorate condition of already sick Indian Railway. It would turn into a high debt company. There needs to be professional SPV implementing projects.

The list of corrective measures is endless. We hope the Railway Minister would go in details of these shortcomings and rectify them. Otherwise, all the money would go down the drain.

Budget Disappoints Middle Class, Shipping Sector

Source: http://www.portwings.in/editorial/budget-disappoints-middle-class-shipping-sector/

Port Wings Editorial, March 04, 2015:

In the build up to Narendra Modi-led BJP Government’s first full-year Budget, senior ministers of the government were telling in every available forum that the new government would accommodate all the concerns of citizens and take care all the aspects before finalizing the Budget.

However, the outcome in the Budget clearly demonstrated that it is pro-corporates and failed to provide even the basic demand of middle class (mostly salaried class) of increasing IT slab.

Besides, the proposed 2 % increase in Service Tax would not only eat into the middle classes’ aspirations to enjoy in luxurious hotels using their savings, but also scuttle their future plans.

Though Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had said that he is not in favour of burdening the salaried and middle class with more taxes, the very no show to middle class in the budget will have a huge impact on their spending.

Hence, nothing wrong in saying that the Budget failed to provide the needed relief to the Middle Class, who forms the majority of voters in General Elections.

However, the Finance Minister spared common people from price hikes on many commonly used day-to-day items by reducing duties.

On the other hand, the Budget also disappointed the shipping sector, which had been receiving raw deal from the government for decades.

Several announcements by the Shipping Minister Gadkari and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to equip the desi Shipping sector to compete the videshi shipping companies, fell apart in the budget, as nothing had been incorporated.

No one will dispute that the Shipping sector in our country should have received high priority in the Budget as it represent India’s image globally.

Though there were hope that Modi-led Government would give special package to increase for Coastal movement of cargo and thrust to improve inland waterways, nothing has come out in the final Budget.

Make in India has received a good patronage in the Budget as the Prime Minister is very keen on taking off the mission to reset India’s image globally. However, it needs to see in the larger picture that whether the scheme would culminate in the form intended by the Prime Minister.

Though the Modi-led government haven’t taken its view off the middle class fully, any adverse reaction by them, who forms the major chunk of voters, could even de-stablise the majority BJP government.