The much-awaited international cargo service was launched at the Biju Patnaik International Airport here by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi on Friday.
The facility would boost the State’s exports sector as the processors and exporters of the State would now be able to reach and tap markets in Middle East, Far East and European countries where demands for items like seafood, agro, handloom, handicrafts and spices exist.
Padhi hoped that with the new services, now the State can reach the world with Odisha’s products which can be directly sent to foreign destinations.
“Though the service was discontinued for some reasons in the past, we will be able to maintain it as lots of export units are lined up in the State,” Padhi said.
Asked about the commencement of international flight services from the city airport, he said the Air Asia is most likely to begin its services to Kuala lumpur in April this year.
Meanwhile to facilitate the cargo services, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has earmarked a hall adjacent to the domestic air cargo terminal for the purpose.
The AAI has also accorded concurrence to the city office of the AAI to become custodian of the international air cargo terminal.
Earlier, cargoes were dispatched through Hyderabad or Kolkata airports.