Mubasher: Qatar Navigation (Milaha) said Wednesday that it has signed an agreement with the Kandla International Container Terminal (KICT) in India, to start the first direct common carrier feeder service between Saudi Arabia and India.

The frequency of the first-of-its-kind service will be weekly and will connect the Gujarat port of Kandla directly with Jebel Ali in Dubai, and Dammam and Jubail in Saudi Arabia, according to a statement.

“After our successful entry into the Indian market in March 2015 with the launch of the first direct service between Qatar and India, we have been exploring various options to further enhance our presence in the country,” Milaha’s President and CEO, Abdulrahman Essa Al-Mannai, said.

“After careful evaluation of trade patterns and feedback from our very supportive customers and partners, we decided to launch this service especially since a large proportion of agricultural produce cargo to Dammam is exported through the ports in Gujarat. We are proud to be part of this historic moment which will certainly bolster trade ties between the Gulf region as a whole and India, as well as further broaden our feeder network within the Gulf and the Indian Subcontinent,” he added.