Shipping industry’s very own Talisman from Port City

Having started as an executive trainee in steel major, Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and in the course of three decades getting to occupy the exalted position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO and fulltime Director of Vizag Seaport Private Limited (VSPL), and being the chairman of CII, Vizag Zone, the professional career of Mr Ragam Kishore has come a full circle.

Helping him rise the success ladder has been his academic background, which he put to appropriate use. A Post Graduate in Science from Andhra University, Mr Kishore’s professional grooming has been in institutes of excellence like the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Kolkata, British Steel Corporation and Bhilai Management Institute.

Driven with the zest to make a name, Mr Kishore enjoyed a fruitful 21-year tenure in SAIL during which period he was integral to various divisions, especially in the organisation’s Transport & Shipping Division. His journey in SAIL began way back in 1979 as an executive trainee in their Home Sales Division.

Adding to his credentials was the hands-on experience he gained in transport & shipping of steel, chartering of bulk, break-bulk cargoes and operation and management of steel yards. He left SAIL as its Chief Regional Manager (South) in 2000.

Not one to rest content, he soon joined Gammon India Limited, where he spearheaded the Group’s premier project and special purpose vehicle, Vizag Seaport Private Limited. He was a key man in the construction and operation of two multipurpose Panamax Compatible Berths EQ-8 & EQ-9 in the Inner Harbour at Visakhapatnam. Currently, the terminal generates annual revenue to the tune of Rs 200 crore.

Mr Kishore has won accolades for the impeccable manner he managed Visakhapatnam Port Trust as its trustee in 2012 and as a trustee of Kolkata Port Trust from 2012-2015.

His vast experience of over three decades in shipping and port management is the strength on which he is steering the fortunes of VSPL since February of last year. It has positioned itself as the largest multi-commodity terminal in Vizag port, handling import and export of coking coal, iron ore, gypsum, manganese ore, and coke and steam coal. Its clientele is drawn from across the globe.

Meanwhile, guiding VSPL, and setting sail its goals, is not the only passion of Mr Kishore. In his bid to give something back to society, he chose the healthcare route. Towards this, he established a 500-bedded multispeciality hospital, Pinnacle Hospitals (I) Pvt Ltd, at Visakhapatnam’s Health City. As the Chairman of the hospital he ensures that there is no compromise on providing quality healthcare to patients.

Mr. Kishore wears other equally impressive hats with distinctive flair. He is the Director of both Gammon Project Developers Limited and of the Mumbai-based Indira Container Terminal Private Limited.

Mr Ragam Kishore is also President of Indian Private Ports & Terminals Association.