Srinagar: Private airline Go First here on Monday signed a pact with the UAE-based Lulu Group to transport cargo from Srinagar to Sharjah.
Go First was the first airline to start direct international connection from the Kashmir Valley and has now also become the first airline to start the international cargo services from the sector.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Go First Head (Corporate Affairs) Mohit Dwivedi and Lulu Group Director Salim M A, in the presence of Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce, and Administrative Secretary, Civil Aviation department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Ranjan Thakur.
The Lulu Group director said there were immense export opportunities in Kashmir. “On behalf of the Lulu, I am very thankful to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the Government of India for giving us the opportunity to come to Kashmir. We are quite surprised to see the immense opportunities that we have for the exports from here” Salim MA said.
“As Lulu, we will be able to take a lot of fruit, vegetables and antique and craft and a lot more items. We assure you that we will do our best to export goods from Kashmir,” Salim M A said.
The Go First expressed happiness over becoming the first airline to transport the cargo from here to the Gulf countries.
“On behalf of Go First, I would like to thank the Jammu and Kashmir government, Lulu Group and the Government of India, for giving us this opportunity for taking up the cargo for gulf countries. We are happy with this agreement,” Go First’s Dwivedi said.
He said the airline will start the operations from December this year.
Describing the MoU as a historic opportunity, Thakur said Lulu is the biggest retailer in the Gulf region and its presence will benefit the farmers, growers and artisans here.