Page 4 - Al-Rashed Newsletter March 2020

HOW, I GOT CONTAINERIZED!

Being an average shopper, and having an eye for quality, I never miss out on the “Made in" tag.
China surely rules in this department but what fascinates me is to find something made in Vietnam, Mexico
or even Egypt for that matter. Having said that, never once did I think how it ended up from these countries,
right into my palms. Either I took that for granted or I was plain ignorant.

India’s first Transshipment Container Terminal opened not too long ago in Central Kerala, which is where
my roots are. Many times, I have seen these containers on trucks & trains and in the yard but never did my
inquisitiveness take over me, and never once did I wonder what were inside these containers in spite of
being a curious person otherwise.

I’ve been with the media for a good 10 years, after having promoted 100s of movies, music and people, I
took a sabbatical. Just to flew down where I literally grew up in – Kuwait. A great opportunity sailed my
way in the form of Al Rashed ; and that’s exactly when the missing pieces of the puzzle started to appear.

“Overwhelming” was the feeling on realizing that these containers that were ignored, played a crucial role in
almost
everyone’s lives. From chocolate powder to motorcycles, from carrom boards to the phones, you name it,
they’ve had it. Like earth being considered feminine, so do these mother vessels that carry containers.
Consider the weight a single 20 feet container can hold, and multiply it by the number of containers the
biggest mother can carry, the weight will be equivalent to around 142,536 Asian Elephants (all at once).
Who knew the pen you write with had the efforts and coordination of at least a good 10 people? Who
knew that same pen from China travelled through the roughest and stormiest of seas, the same seas I’d
dare you to travel without throwing up. Who knew? Or was it just me?

No wonder my online orders from Jack Ma’s empire were taking 40 to 50 days to reach me. The tool kit I
last ordered had probably visited Korea, Singapore and UAE before arriving in Kuwait. Interestingly, these
containers transport 95% of the world’s cargo? They have even been bought to make homes, emergency
clinics, offices and even swimming pools. My friend in Kerala runs a restaurant in a 40 feet Container. I
suggest you Google “Container City” in Mexico right now, and you’re going to thank me after seeing the
images. Thanks to ARIS, the future entrepreneur in me, knows the backbone of most trades lie in shipping.

Summing it up, ever thought how Jeff Bezos = Richest person in the world?
Simple, Jeff Bezos = King of Shipping.

Rakesh Krishnan H