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In
an attempt to further enhance the
role of distribution activities in
the state-owned ports, the Sarawak
state government is expected to
create three Free Commercial Zones
at three main ports in the state.
This
follows the move by the Dewan
Undangan Negeri Sarawak to approve
the bill pertaining to the formation
of FCZ area in three major state
owned ports namely, Kuching, Miri
and Sibu.
“The
decision (to create the FCZs) is in
line with a market survey conducted
by the Miri Port Authority, which
revealed the need for such
facilities to further spur and
facilitate trade via the state-owned
ports,” said the general manager
of Miri Port Authority, Shebli
Hairani.
To
facilitate the development of the
commercial zone, Miri Port Authority
board has approved the conversion of
97 ha site of Miri Port into a
Customs-designated Free Commercial
Zone. The creation of FCZ will allow
shippers to carry-out minor
manufacturing activities within the
port area in addition to the normal
break-bulking, sorting, grading,
packing, repacking, labeling and
packaging activities.
“The
creation of the FCZ will no doubt
further promote the usage of our
local ports for value adding and
transhipment activities,” said
Shebli.
He
said in the second stage the port
may even covert the entire Kuala
Baram Industrial Estate which cater
for the small medium industries.
The
industrial estate which comes under
the preview of the Industrial
Development of Sarawak covers
approximately 5,000 acres and mainly
focus on the development of timber
and related industries.
“The
creation of FCZ eventually will
broadened our revenue base and will
increase operational activities at
Miri Port,” Shebli added.
The
Miri Port handled 5.6 million tonnes
of throughput in the first evelen
months of 2001 as compared with 5.4
million tonnes in the corresponding
period previous year.
Container
traffic rose by 70 per cent to 5,070
TEUs in the January-November period
compared with 2,989 Teus in the
corresponding period 2000.
The
average monthly lifting at the
newly-built terminal has grown
tremendously by 70 per cent to 460
Teus per month as compared with 271
TEUs in 2000.
Shin
Yang Shipping and Oceanteam are
among the key lines that provide
regular container service between
Port Klang and Miri.
General
cargo throughput handled by MPA via
its facilities at Kuala Baram
registered an increase of about 56
per cent totalling 221,658 tonnes
for the period from January to
November 2001.
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