Karan Sehgal
PANAJI
A number of international carriers have started offering more space to exports happening out of Goa from Dabolim Airport, which has resulted in sharp growth in such exports.
Satyajit Bhattacharya, founder secretary, Goa Air Cargo Association, said, “International carriers like Air Arabia, Oman Air and Qatar Airways are offering more space to exports from Goa than earlier. Due to this, exports from Dabolim Airport registered a good growth.”
In the seven months from January to July 2018, 937 tons were exported from Dabolim Airport, which was 26.3% more than 742 tons exported in January to July 2017.
Bhattacharya also said that around 98% exports happening out of Dabolim Airport are in the category of fruits and vegetables while the remaining 2% are general cargo. A large portion of such fruits and vegetable exports heads to the Middle East.
There are a number of exporters in the state, who source fruits and vegetables from neighbouring Maharashtra and Karnataka and export them out of Goa. This is because Dabolim Airport has better connectivity to international destinations than several parts of the neighbouring states.
Bhattacharya further informed that due to floods in Kerala in the recent weeks, vegetable and fruit cargo came to Goa, which also resulted in growth in exports from Dabolim Airport to an extent.
A growth in exports due to floods in Kerala is an aberration. However, the fact that international airlines are offering more space to exports originating from the state is a positive sign.
Often, a complaint is raised that local industry and trade is not capable of generating enough cargo. The very fact that traders are sourcing fruits and vegetables from Maharashtra and Karnataka to export from Goa shows that the state can potentially become an export hub.
