April 27, 2007 - Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha, Ltd. ("K" Line) is pleased to announce the opening of an Overseas Liaison Office in India with effective from July 1, 2007 in order to strengthen its Dry Bulk and Car Carrier Businesses in India .
(1) Dry Bulk Business: India is sustaining a high rate of economic growth and given expectations for a considerable increase in dry bulk cargo movements in the near future, “ K” LINE will strengthen dialogue with existing customers locally and by picking up new customers expand its business opportunities . “ K” LINE is focused on proactive initiatives in its business overseas under its new intermediate management plan "K" Line Vision 2008 + , and placing a liaison in India enables improved information gathering.
(2) Car Carrier Business: Further sales increases and significant production centered on economy compact cars are anticipated in the Indian auto industry due to the expansion of domestic demand in light of healthy economic growth and the government-led policy of positioning India as a center for the supply of compact cars. Already, in exports of complete cars, mainly by domestic automakers, shipping to the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe is on an upward trend. With Japanese, South Korean, American and European automakers actively expanding production capacity at their Indian plants, full-scale exports are in view. The establishment of a liaison office in such a market expands "K" Line's car carrier service network in the Indian Ocean Rim and actively promotes the entry to new owners of cargo and new cargoes.