Why Sri Lanka should not sign the Economic and Tecchnology Co-operative Agreement (ETCA) with India

HeinzGud

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At the moment yes, we'll have to pay more to transship goods through Jebel Ali or Port Klang.Let me explain
The lack of a deep water port with more than a 15mt draft has hurt Indian exports and we have to transship goods through ports which can handle bigger ships.Simply putting it the depth of water at our ports restrict us to container vessels of less than 15000TEU. The problem is most large global lines use Ships larger than 18000TEU to keep costs low, Indian exporters hence ship goods to Sri Lanka, Singapore or Dubai first using ships of 10-12000 TEU and then unload and load these goods back on ships above 15000TEU in size. This increases both export & import costs.
Now that the problem why @HeinzGud is right has been explained let me tell you why he is wrong in the long term.
India has currently started construction of two Deep water ports with Vizingham in Kerala stated to have a more than a 20mt draft & Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh having a 18.5mt draft. The development of both these ports had been stalled for the last two decades but now they are in full swing and shall be complete in the next five years.Once these are complete the Lankan ports will lose 70% of their business.
So if the new Indian deep water ports comes into play, Sri Lanka will not be intergrated into Indian economy as you said.

Moreover, Sri Lanka has foreseen the future trends and started the H'tota harbor project with China. That project was originally given to India but turned down. With the H'tota port Sri Lanka could start services ships in the busy shipping lane runs closer to H'tota.
 

bengalraider

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So if the new Indian deep water ports comes into play, Sri Lanka will not be intergrated into Indian economy as you said.

Moreover, Sri Lanka has foreseen the future trends and started the H'tota harbor project with China. That project was originally given to India but turned down. With the H'tota port Sri Lanka could start services ships in the busy shipping lane runs closer to H'tota.
Most Ships only stop there because of goods to be transshipped to India, without India those ports will lose 70-80% revenue and turn into white elephants.
Closer economic cooperation with India will help Sri Lanka Maintain competitive tarrifs vis a vis our own ports, Most economic analyses have approx 50% of the worlds production in 2030 coming out of India + China (India 18-23% + China 27-32%) Even with Vizingham,Krishnapatnam, Mundra and other deepwater ports in India the volumes are likely to be t high enough for there to be scope for goods to be transshipped especially with the plan for a bridge from India to Sri Lanka picking up steam.It's mutual actually Sri Lanka gains by not having her ports turn into White elephants we gain by having two more Ports to ship goods from.

As for the Chinese their shipping is handled via Hong Kong, Tianjin and Shanghai. They really don't need your ports for trade.
 

Indx TechStyle

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Sri Lanka is not part of India. India is what with in the internationally agreed borders. So stop your pipe dream and answer my question directly,

It seems that you have no clue on what you talking about.
Thank God these denial people got apart from us several years ago. :D
 

HeinzGud

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Most Ships only stop there because of goods to be transshipped to India, without India those ports will lose 70-80% revenue and turn into white elephants.
Closer economic cooperation with India will help Sri Lanka Maintain competitive tarrifs vis a vis our own ports, Most economic analyses have approx 50% of the worlds production in 2030 coming out of India + China (India 18-23% + China 27-32%) Even with Vizingham,Krishnapatnam, Mundra and other deepwater ports in India the volumes are likely to be t high enough for there to be scope for goods to be transshipped especially with the plan for a bridge from India to Sri Lanka picking up steam.It's mutual actually Sri Lanka gains by not having her ports turn into White elephants we gain by having two more Ports to ship goods from.

As for the Chinese their shipping is handled via Hong Kong, Tianjin and Shanghai. They really don't need your ports for trade.
Tran-shipment is done through the Colombo port only. H'tota don't handle trans-shipment cargo. H'tota is primarily designed for servicing passing by ships in East-West shipping lane. Which is being currently serviced at Singapore.

It is no good to cooperate with India when as you mentioned there are deep water ports being built in the Indian shore. Sri Lanka should look for an alternative.

Besides why does Sri Lanka need a bridge to connect with India. Ships are more than enough to tranship goods. I don't see any point to built a bridge that will only benefit India.

As I told earlier. Sri Lanka does not look for Chinese to trade with Sri Lankan ports. What we are doing is tapping the East-West shipping lane as a service center in the IOR region.
 

garg_bharat

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@HeinzGud, you are brainwashed and opinionated.

You are confused that India is making policy for your country.

Your country has dirty politics where two camps use violence against each other to gain power.

Weak countries or banana republic like yours will always be played by strong powers.

I have already told you, you return Indian aid. End of story. No discussion needed.
 

amoy

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Chinese have an appetite for global deployment in key ports. In addition to Gwadar Port --

China's COSCO declared preferred investor for Greek Piraeus port privatization
Chinese purchased a 99-year lease in the Port of Darwin in north Australia
Hong Kong's Hutchison Whampoa to Invest in Panama Port
China’s Presence In African Ports: Investment Across The Ocean

You can count how many Chinese ports are in the TOP 50 WORLD CONTAINER PORTS list

The mega investment in Colombo and H'tota ports well suits China's maritime strategy as a leading trader. The massive terminal in Colombo is located mid-way on the lucrative east-west sea route and has facilities on a par with Singapore and Dubai.

The Colombo International Container Terminal, which is 85 percent owned by state-run China Merchant Holdings International, is designed to handle mega ships — a first for Sri Lanka which is aiming to become the region's shipping hub.

Chinese expertise coupled with Colombo's strategic location would make Sri Lanka a key stop-over for international carriers who want to avoid Somali pirates off the Gulf of Aden.
 

amoy

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After so much internal strife UNP politicians seems able to get their feet back on ground.
Sri Lanka seeks closer trade, economic ties with China, says PM

The purpose of his visit, according to the prime minister, is to boost economic relations between Sri Lanka and China and discuss bilateral Free Trade Agreement.

"We like to have more emphasis on Chinese private investments into Sri Lanka and there are some other economic issues such as future loans that I hope to discuss," he said.

The four-day official visit to China next week will be Wickremesinghe's first since winning a parliamentary election in August last year.

His party, the United National Party (UNP), defeated the former United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) led by former President Mahinda Rajapakse and his government led by President Maithripala Sirisena has now set a goal to transform Sri Lanka into South Asia's international hub.

Sri Lanka's largest foreign investment, the Colombo Port City Project, funded by China, was recently given green light to resume after it was suspended by the government in March last year due to environmental concerns.

Wickremesinghe said that the project will now be granted a special status as a unique financial and business district of Sri Lanka and will be included in the government's mega development plan.

"The Port City will become a special financial and business district of Sri Lanka which will have its own laws. Of course the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka must have the final say," he said.

There will be a separate financial and legal system operating in the Port City "where people can come and transact business internationally," according to the prime minister.

Sri Lanka is having discussions with the Chinese government in setting up a special economic zone in Hambantota in the south with Chinese investments. With the Mattala Airport and the Hambantota port in the area, Sri Lanka hopes to attract Chinese companies that have experience in operating airports and harbors, Wickremesinghe said.

"Once it is set, it will become one major economic zone as we plan to transform Hambantota into the second largest economic area in Sri Lanka."

In addition, China has also extended its cooperation with Sri Lanka in the government's western megapolis development plan and the integrated development plan in Pollonnaruwa in the North Central Province, he added.

With China's 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, Sri Lanka hopes to regain its status as the hub of the Indian Ocean, the prime minister said.

-------------------------------------
BTW what separate financial and legal system will phase in to the Colombo Port City?
 

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