Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said the US\u2019s reciprocal tariff policy has opened up new opportunities for India to expand its global exports. Speaking during an inspection of the \u20b91,200 crore Multimodal Logistics Park project in Pithampur, near Indore, Gadkari emphasized that India must now focus on reducing logistics costs to stay competitive in international trade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“With the current global scenario and the tariffs imposed by the US, a window of opportunity has emerged for India to increase exports worldwide,” Gadkari said during the programme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Highlighting the cost challenge, he pointed out that India’s logistics costs stand at 14\u201316%, compared to just 8% in China and 12% in the US and Europe. \u201cThis 8% gap with China is a key barrier to India\u2019s export competitiveness,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To address this, the government is developing logistics and multimodal parks across the country. The Pithampur Multimodal Logistics Park, spread over 255 acres, is expected to be completed within the next 1.5 to 2 years. Once operational, it will enhance export-import activity in the Malwa-Nimar region, lower logistics costs, and accelerate regional development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gadkari also laid the foundation stone for a railway siding that will connect the logistics park to Saugor railway station, 7 km away. This connectivity will allow farmers\u2019 produce from the region to be shipped more efficiently to major ports like Mumbai\u2019s JNPT and Gujarat\u2019s Kandla and Mundra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s like Mumbai\u2019s sea coming to Pithampur,\u201d Gadkari quipped, as he shared plans to allow container checking at the park itself, enabling direct rail shipments to ports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He further hinted at future plans to develop waterways on the Narmada and other rivers in Madhya Pradesh to further boost trade and economic activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Notably, Gadkari said that the Malwa-Nimar belt contributes 75% of Madhya Pradesh\u2019s organic farming output, reinforcing the region’s importance in India\u2019s agri-export potential.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said the US\u2019s reciprocal tariff policy has opened up new opportunities for India to expand its global exports. Speaking during an inspection of the \u20b91,200 crore Multimodal Logistics Park project in Pithampur, near Indore, Gadkari emphasized that India must now focus on reducing logistics costs to stay competitive in […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-2916","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n