Mumbai:
As part of Government's 'Look East Policy', state-run Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) on Monday said it has started a fortnightly service to Myanmar.
The service will cater to Mizoram and other North-eastern states using the Sittwe port in Myanmar located on the mouth of the Kaladan river, Shipping Secretary Vishwapati Trivedi said.
Seeking to allay concerns over financial implications of the move, he said, "SCI has the wherewithal to sustain the service in the long run. We cannot expect to make profits from day one. However, in a year's time, we hope the service, part of 'Look East Policy', will be well received by traders."
Cargo ship 'MV Kamal' made its maiden call at the Chennai port on Friday with a 200 TEU consignment, the company said in a statement.
The cargo brought by the ship included pulses, timber, furniture, cement and chemicals. The ship will call on Krishnapatnam, Yangon and Colombo before returning to Chennai as part of the fortnightly service, it said.
The "Look East Policy', started in early 1990s, entails cultivation of extensive economic and strategic relations with the Southeast Asian nations.