India to launch shipping service to B\\\'desh soon

India will launch regular shipping services to Bangladesh very soon, a move seen by the observers aimed at boosting ties with the immediate neighbour. While the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is taking preparation to start fresh shipping lines to run container ships between India and Myanmar in October, sources said commercial trial run of vessels on India-Bangladesh coastal routes will begin in the same month. Officials said that the regular coastal shipping between Bangladesh ports and India’s eastern ports such as Paradip and Haldia may commence by this year-end. With the commencement of India-Myanmar direct shipping service the transit time for Indian exports to Myanmar and Indian imports from the eastern neighbour would reduce considerably. Sources said the SCI would get some subsidy for the first six months. Sources said, India and Myanmar have recently agreed to enhance their trade to $3 billion by 2015. To push India-Bangladesh coastal shipping arrangement, Bangladesh shipping department recently wrote to its Indian counterpart that the agency has received a list of 18 vessels from the ship owners association for operation. Since India had suggested in June this year that Indian Registrar of Shipping can assist in certification of Bangladesh vessels, Dhaka has now informed that these ships will be available for inspection from first week of September, according to UNB.