Kerala Says It Was Not Consulted on MSC’s $1.4 Billion Investment in Vizhinjam Port
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has said the state government was not consulted about MSC Group’s proposed $1.4 billion investment in the Vizhinjam Port, where the Swiss shipping giant plans to acquire a 49% stake in partnership with Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone. The investment, announced earlier this week, is expected to become the largest foreign private investment in India’s domestic port infrastructure.
The chief minister said he had expressed the state government’s strong displeasure to Adani Ports, stressing that any change in the concessionaire’s shareholding structure requires prior government approval. He added that the proposal would be examined strictly under the terms of the concession agreement and applicable regulations. Adani Ports has not yet responded publicly to the state’s concerns.
Vizhinjam Port is India’s first deep-water container transshipment port and is expected to reduce logistics costs by handling domestic and regional cargo that is currently routed through Sri Lanka. Developed and operated by Adani Ports under a concession agreement, the project is considered a strategic infrastructure asset for India’s maritime trade, making the proposed investment and ownership changes subject to close government scrutiny.
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