**Bhubaneswar**: International cargo handling operations will begin from the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) from January 27, said an official on Tuesday.
Customs Commissioner Deepak Arora said the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has already given all clearances and they will start international air cargo from the city airport.
The AAI has already earmarked a hall adjacent to the domestic air cargo terminal for the international air cargo terminal, said Arora.
A meeting in this regard was held under the chairmanship of Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Secretary L.N. Gupta at the airport here on Tuesday. It was attended by officials of the airport authority.
This will fulfil the long-standing demand of the exporters to have hassle-free exports of their goods to the foreign countries and boost export from the state, said Gupta.
Representatives of various export associations like seafood, agro food processing industries, handloom and handicrafts exporters and spice exporters indicated that it will be highly beneficial for the industry and trade to get the export facility at the airport rather than to send it by road to Hyderabad or Kolkata airports.
Representatives of different airlines like Indigo, Vistara, and Air India have been asked to publish a schedule for dispatching cargo to various international destinations in Middle East, far-east and European countries within seven days both for the perishable and non-perishable items, said a release.
(IANS)
