APL reaffirms commitment to Sri Lanka
View(s):APL, a global giant in shipping, has reaffirmed its commitment to contribute to Sri Lanka’s regional hub ambitions just as the company opened its new office premises recently in Colombo.
From left - Ikram Ghazali, Director - APL and CMA CGM for Sri Lanka and the Maldives; Thomas Casutto - Chief Commercial Officer, APL; Nicolas Sartini, Chief Executive Officer – APL; Michel Azrak, Regional Commercial Director – APL; and Eranga Wijesinghe, Head of Commercial - APL for Sri Lanka and Maldives.
APL, which celebrates 170 years of global shipping in 2018, said that Sri Lanka’s neighbouring economies such as Bangladesh and India that trans-ship significant cargo volumes via Colombo have continued to grow robustly, auguring well for Sri Lanka’s prospects as an Indian Ocean hub.
In a media release, APL said Colombo began container operations with APL when vessel SS President Tyler first berthed in Queen Elizabeth Quay (QEQ) in December 1973. Having served Sri Lanka for the last 45 years, APL has expressed its commitment to keep sailing this voyage with Sri Lanka which is pursuing Vision 2025; and builds her new port city to promote the country as a trading hub.
“Going the extra mile for shippers, the carrier also pledges to elevate customer service experience through active engagements. In fact, APL was recently lauded as the ‘Best Carrier for Customer Service in the Trans-Pacific Trade Lane’ at the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers’ 24th Award Ceremony in Sri Lanka. This award marks a vote of recognition for APL’s service excellence by customers and peers in the industry,” the release said.
Sri Lanka sits strategically in the middle of the Indian Ocean and the Maritime Silk Road, making her a critical gateway for an efficient cargo flow within and beyond the Indian Subcontinent. Sri Lanka remains an important market for APL’s development in the Indian Subcontinent where APL has also started commercial operations in Maldives in March this year.