ESL in deal with Sri Lanka's port

Emirates Shipping Line (ESL), a leading container ship owner and operator in the Middle East, has entered a long-term exclusive Terminal Service Agreement with the Sri Lanka Ports Authority (SLPA).

ESL ships will call at the state-owned Jaya Container Terminal (JCT) and the firm will use Colombo Port as a hub to service its markets in the Far East, India, Middle East and East Africa.

ESL CEO Vikas Mohammed Khan recently told Emirates Business that although the current financial crisis had slightly hit the firm, it still has trust in its markets in East Asia, Middle East and India. "We are concentrating on markets that have not witnessed a severe crunch in volumes and these will continue to be our core markets for sometime," said Khan.

The firm is looking to expand its operations into the African continent to tap into the growing demand for imports.