Kerala Launches Full EXIM Operations at Vizhinjam International Seaport

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan launched full-scale export-import (EXIM) operations at the Vizhinjam International Seaport on August 18, 2026. The transition shifts the facility from a deepwater transshipment hub to a multi-purpose commercial gateway. The first export container, containing 4,000kg of frozen and ready-to-eat food products from Nilamels Exports, was flagged off for Valencia, Spain, via the vessel MSC Marie Leslie.

To support this expansion, the Government of Kerala introduced Mission Samudra, a port-led industrial and logistics initiative backed by a Rs 400-crore catalytic fund. The program aims to establish the Vizhinjam Maritime Economic Region, featuring eight industrial clusters and three new cities along the state's 600-km coastline. Satheesan also announced a Rs 3,200-crore allocation for Ring Road land acquisition to address critical rail and road connectivity gaps.

Operated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd., the port utilizes India's first AI-assisted operating system. CEO Ashwani Gupta noted the current 2.3-million-TEU capacity, with a planned Phase II expansion requiring Rs 16,000 crore to reach 5.7 million TEUs by December 2028. Total investment in the project is expected to reach Rs 30,000 crore. The initiative seeks to reduce India's reliance on foreign transshipment hubs, which currently handle over 75 percent of the country's container cargo.