Synopsis
The Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) in Sri Lanka will create numerous local jobs, according to Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports. This $800 million investment enhances Colombo's status as a significant transshipment hub in South Asia.Key Takeaways
- Colombo West International Terminal will create thousands of local jobs.
- The project represents an investment of $800 million.
- It features a 1,400-metre quay length and a 20-metre depth.
- It aims to handle 3.2 million TEUs annually.
- APSEZ plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025.
Ahmedabad, April 7 (NationPress) The inauguration of the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) in Sri Lanka is set to generate thousands of local job opportunities, as stated by Karan Adani, Managing Director of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), on Monday.
Adani Ports has initiated operations at the terminal situated at the Port of Colombo. The CWIT project signifies a substantial investment of $800 million and boasts a 1,400-metre quay length and 20-metre depth, allowing the terminal to accommodate around 3.2 million Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs) each year.
"The launch of the Colombo West International Terminal (CWIT) is a moment of pride for Sri Lanka, enhancing the status of Colombo Port as a vital transshipment hub in South Asia," Karan Adani expressed in a post on the social media platform X.
Developed by Adani Ports through a forward-thinking public-private partnership, "this initiative will generate thousands of jobs locally and serve as a symbol of strong neighborhood ties and shared advancement," he further noted.
The CWIT stands as the first fully automated deep-water terminal in Colombo, designed to boost cargo handling efficiency, improve vessel turnaround times, and elevate the port’s role as a key transshipment hub in South Asia.
The operation of CWIT is managed by a consortium that includes India’s leading port operator, Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, prominent Sri Lankan conglomerate John Keells Holdings PLC, and the Sri Lanka Ports Authority, under a 35-year Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) agreement.
In the meantime, Adani Ports reported handling 450 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo in FY 2024-25, reflecting a 7 percent year-on-year increase. Mundra, the flagship port of APSEZ, achieved a historic milestone by exceeding the 200 MMT cargo mark in a single fiscal year, a first for any Indian port.
The largest port operator in the country managed 420 MMT of cargo during the financial year 2023-24, exceeding the government's 410 MMT target.
According to Karan Adani, APSEZ aspires to become the world’s largest port operator by 2030, achieve carbon neutrality by 2025, and reach net-zero emissions by 2040.
