APM Terminals Shows The Way In Port Enterprise at Pipavav
A successful public-private enterprise, Port Pipavav is managed and operated by APM Terminals, also the largest shareholder in Port Pipavav (43.01%). With a total land area of 631 hectares, there is plenty of lands available for the expansion of port-related services and businesses. The port has leased out land for a variety of services including liquid cargo facilities.
Pipavav is located in Gujarat, just 152 nautical miles (10 hours steaming time) from Nhava Sheva in Mumbai. It has access to the main shipping lines and immediate access to a rich hinterland and key markets in northwest India. The port currently has a capacity to handle up to 1.35 million TEUs of containers, 4-5 million tonnes of dry bulk cargo, 2 million tonnes of liquid cargo and about 250,000 cars per year.
APM Terminals Pipavav, the first port to be connected to the DFC, aims to establish an ecosystem that includes the local community, employees, suppliers and customers. It has inspired youngsters to become entrepreneurs and has provided several employment options through upskilling and improving the livelihoods of neighboring areas. Under the initiative Saksham, the company established a Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (SEDI) with the goal of teaching professional skills to youngsters in order to prepare them for work.
Over the last five years, the Company has trained around 1,500 youngsters from 200 communities, of which approximately 1,100 have found employment or established their own businesses to provide regular income. Almost one-third of these young people are women who are working.
According to Jakob Friis Sørensen, MD, APM Terminals Pipavav, locals are an integral part of their growth. “We are delighted to not only support their livelihoods but also partner with them by giving adequate employment prospects. Almost 85 percent of our staff are of local origin and were hired through our rigorous and transparent HR process,” he explains.
Suppliers are an important part of the company’s inclusive growth strategy. APM Terminals Pipavav adheres to AP Moller Maersk’s stringent criteria for safety, vendor onboarding, personnel recruiting, customer service, and community services, which results in improved livelihoods. It follows the “Supplier Code of Conduct” and believes in providing equal and transparent opportunities to all local vendors/suppliers.
There is an online gateway available to engage in upcoming projects, as well as a contract renewal process with timetables. The vendor selection process is based on financial stability, project deliverables, work assessment, applicable experience, and, if appropriate, technical requirements. The URL for a transparent vendor selection procedure can be viewed.
Mr. Sørensen further emphasized on the company’s global procedures for supplier onboarding. “We have a well-defined procurement process and an internet site for suppliers to participate in new projects or renew existing ones. It is a transparent partnership,” as he put it.
