INTTRA Container Volumes for India More Than Triple in 2007: Mumbai Office and Staff Expanded to Support Projected E-Commerce Growth in 2008
February 25, 2008
MUMBAI, INDIA, February 25, 2008 - With container volume growth more than tripling in India last year and expected to continue strong in 2008 throughout the Indian Subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, INTTRA officials opened an expanded Mumbai office on the Andheri Kurla Road. The office was opened in January to accommodate five new staff members who came onboard in 2007.
With more than 240,000 container orders initiated on the platform each week, representing almost 10 percent of global container trade, INTTRA is a leading global provider of e-commerce solutions to ocean carriers and their customers.
Ramcy Castelino, INTTRA General Manager, South Asia, who also joined the Mumbai office last year, reports that growth for INTTRA has been extremely strong throughout South Asia in 2007, with all indications that 2008 will be another banner year for INTTRA and its customers.
From 155,000 Indian containers processed in 2006, Castelino says figures more than tripled to "a little more than 525,000" in 2007. "For India, as a country, we expect volumes in 2008 to just about double to 900,000 containers processed," he said, adding that INTTRA expects to hit the 1 million container mark for the entire region in 2008. That's up from approximately 600,000 containers processed throughout the Indian Subcontinent in 2007, according to Castelino.
In general, Castelino attributes INTTRA's expansion in India and the region, at large, to the "phenomenal growth" of the Indian economy and reports that India is now INTTRA's "third largest market behind China and Brazil." From April 2007 to March 2008, he says the Indian government is forecasting the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) to grow 8.7 percent with Indian exports during this same period expected to reach $160 billion.
Although Castelino notes "marginal slow downs in terms of volume to the United States in the latter part of 2007, volumes continue to be strong to Europe and the Asia Pacific. In fact, if I look at the first two quarters of 2008 I see the same pattern as the last two quarters of 2007," he added.
In terms of INTTRA products and services, Castelino says INTTRA Desktop continues to be very popular as it allows customers without strong Internet connectivity to enjoy the benefits of streamlined work that e-commerce provides. INTTRA Bookings and Shipping Instructions are "very popular in the Indian market," he added.
John DeBenedette, INTTRA Vice President, Commercial, says he is "very proud to be expanding INTTRA's presence in India, which is our fastest-growing and third-largest territory. The opportunity for e-business growth is tremendous given the alignment of trade, talent, and a tech-savvy business community. Our new office represents our commitment to stay close to our customers because e-commerce is about trust and relationships as much as it is computers."
And Paul Stephen, INTTRA Managing Director, APAC, points out that INTTRA's presence in India and the region is actually quite recent, which highlights the demand for e-commerce products and services. "Although we only began promoting INTTRA in earnest in late 2005, India has grown to be the third highest contributor to INTTRA in terms of volume behind China and Brazil. The growth in India particularly can be attributed to the wonderful collaboration with our carrier partners, with whom the INTTRA team enjoys a close relationship," he added.
To date, INTTRA employs seven people in its new Mumbai office, which is located at 509/510 Meadows Sahar Plaza Complex on Andheri Kurla Road, Andheri East, Mumbai. Since last year, three inside sales personnel, a customer service professional and Castelino joined the office, which means INTTRA staff serving the Indian Subcontinent has more than doubled in the last 12 months.
To contact the office call: 91 22 6721 3322, or fax: 91 22 6721 3320.
About INTTRA
INTTRA, founded in 2000 and headquartered in Parsippany, N.J., is a leading global provider of
e-commerce solutions to ocean carriers and their customers. INTTRA professionals work with customers to streamline and standardize their shipping processes, applying their e-commerce knowledge of the shipping industry for customers in markets worldwide.
More than 240,000 container orders are initiated on the INTTRA platform each week, representing almost 10 percent of global ocean container trade.
INTTRA's e-commerce platform offers a comprehensive range of e-commerce tools, including: Tender, Sailing Schedules, Booking, Shipping Instructions, Bill of Lading, Track & Trace, and Reports. Accessing the INTTRA platform is simple, using any combination of their channel solutions: INTTRA-Link (EDI-based, system-to-system connection), INTTRA-Desktop (off-line PC application), or INTTRA-Act (web-based application).
INTTRA's carrier network includes, Alianca, ANL, CMA CGM, CSAV, CSAV NORASIA, Deutsche Afrika-Linien, Emirates Shipping Line, Hamburg Sud, Hanjin Shipping Co., Hapag-Lloyd, "K" Line, Libra, Maersk Line, MCC Transport Pte Ltd., MISC, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company S.A., NYK Line, Safmarine, Senator Lines, United Arab Shipping Company.
For further information visit www.inttra.com. Or contact Andy Barrons, INTTRA Vice President of Marketing, at +1.973.263.5100 or email him at: andy.barrons@inttra.com.
INTTRA, the INTTRA logo, INTTRA-LINK, INTTRA-Desktop, INTTRA-ACT are trademarks or registered trademarks, service marks or registered service marks of INTTRA, Inc. All other product and company names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective holders