I clearly remember the support from Mr. Rajdeepak Bhargava , Mr. S.Y Ranade , Mr. Rajiv Shah , Mr. Murli Nagrani , Mr. S P Kulkarni and my seniors who came together and felt the need of Customs House Agents’ Association in 2001-02 and I am proud to be founder member of this association.

The Secretary is always back bone of any association and the success of the association is totally dependent on Secretary . Here I have to thank Mr. S P Kulkarni who was Secretary throughout my journey as Office bearer of Proud Pune Customs House Agents’ Association. I also thank M/s. ATC Clearing , Pune for providing office space for more than 11 years which helped us to concentrate and work efficiently from their office.

We as PCHAA have always grown in upwards and increase membership from 30 to 132.

We have also grown as far as participation in Customs is concerned. We are part of PTFC meetings . We are also part of CCFC meeting. We have also grown on National level.

I feel proud to represent PCHAA in Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Association for last 4 years. PCHAA has contributed lot in Federation. Recently Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Association conducted FIATA World Congress in September 2018. We as PCHAA were most active and contributed towards the success of the FIATA World Congress 2018. More than 1125 national and International Delegates participated in the FIATA World Congress 2018.

The journey of the success is not measured in the terms of Miles and what you have achieved in your personal life , the Success is always measure with how many people you carry that success . Here I have to special mention the force behind my success who is none other than Mr. S Y Ranade , who always guided me in Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Association and always encourage me to participate in the FFFAI .

I clearly remember the support by PCHAA Committee to win the election as Treasurer of FFFAI for the term 2015-17 and 2017-19. Now I am aspiring to go further to play an important role and contribute my services and take the EXIM matters and contribute to serve EXIM Trade .

I thank PCHAA believing in me to represent in FFFAI and take PCHAA Flag to next level. Now for us the sky is the limit. It was great Journey to work with Past Presidents Mr. Rajdeepak Bhargava , Mr. S Y Ranade , Mr. Ashish V Samarth and now I am enjoying to work with our Current President Mr. Pradeep Kale .

I want to appreciate Current PCHAA committee is doing fantastic Job under the leadership of our President Mr. Pradeep Kale. This committee have lot of innovative ideas to take PCHAA to next level. I congratulate to our President Pradeep Kale Ji for various events organized within the span of 1 year.

I believe in together we grow 100%.

Alone I cannot do much but together we can do 100%

Served on various types of vessels from General cargo ships to Bulk Carriers, Product tankers to VLCCs.

He, alongwith his colleague Capt. A. Savur, are credited with the planning and execution of the world’s first sea to sea transfer of a fully loaded container ship.

Came back to India and launched Samson Freight Pvt. Ltd in 1987.

Promoted the use of ICDs in Pune and successfully brought in the first import container by rail to be cleared in Pune. The rest they say is history.

Took over the reins of the Association as the third president from Mr. S.Y. Ranade. in Sept. 2010 and completed two terms as the President.

During his tenure as President, the association saw a series of measures adopted to improve the quality services being provided to the fraternity, at the same time engaging the authorities towards taking the first steps for the ease of doing business.

The Association held the 5th EC meeting of the FFFAI for the first time in Pune, which due to a collective effort put in by members and office bearers was a resounding success.

This was followed by a Gala Musical Tambola evening for the members and their staff.

Sports has always helped in building team spirit and camaraderie, it was but natural that we joined forces with others in organizing a seven-a-side-football tournament.

Knowledge sessions were organized and we had the privilege of having Mr. Samir Shah come and address us during this period.

As part of their social commitment the Association had organised a blood donation camp.

Last but not the least the Associations office was identified and purchased during this period

Having shifted to Pune, it has been my focus on making Pune a Shipping hub for the Industrial units in and around Pune and the starting of container Freight Station at Pimpri, Pune – a customs bonded area and Clearance facility gave impetus to the growth of Trade in & around Pune.

I have been the very first Custom House Agent having been issued a CHA License, at pune. At that point of time the Customs had entrusted me the job of formation of CHA Associations at Pune as this was the statutory requirement. As such I had the privilege of being the convener & founder of the CHA Association to be formed. After a few fruitless meetings finally in the last meeting in July 2003, the Association was formed and I had the proud privilege to announce the first office bearers of the Pune Custom House Agents Association. Mr. Rajdeepak Bhargava was selected to be the first president with Mr. Raju Shah as Vice President, S. P. Kulkarni as Secretary and Joint secretary Mr. Tophkhane with Mr. Vinod Sharma being the first Treasurer of the Association. A proud moment for all of us.

It was pleasure for me to represent our Pune Association at the Federation of Freight Forwarders Association of India, as the Executive Committee Member for well over 11 years continuously. FFFAI is the National Apex body of the Member associations. It was also my proud privilege to be the President interest of the members as well as Customs & other Agencies to resolve a number of issues.

I feel proud when I look back now, in the development & growth of Pune – from a single CFS at Pimpri, Pune to 4 more ICD’s viz., Dighi, Concor(Railways), KSH – Talegaon & APM Terminal at Chakan; and also a considerable rise in the number of TEU’s being shipped through these facilities. The Customs officers Role in Development & Growth of the above facilities will always the appreciated by all of us at the PCHAA. I really felt overwhelmed when I was awarded & felicited for my “ LIFE TIME CONTRIBITION TO GROWTH OF PUNE TRADE” by our shipping fraternity.

Pune Custom House Agents’ Association really will always remain close to my Heart.
GOOD LUCK & GOD BLESS.

During over the last decade of its existence; and after relentlessly steering the Association for six years in a row; I passed on the baton to Mr. S.Y. Ranade; Capt. Ashish Samarth; Vinod Sharma and which is currently being steered by Mr. Pradeep Kale. And during these years where each one of us, jointly and severely, contributed, whole heartedly to the development of the PCHAA!

As I had mentioned in one of my previous communications “that this will be another day in which the Pune Customs House Agents Association will … “WALK THE TALK BRILLIANLY”.

Its indeed a pleasure to state that today, the Association, with unstinted support of its members has morphed into some thing which I can proudly say is a “State of the Art” one! Today we have embraced the latest in digital technology and kept up with the current trends in conducting business transparently.

And in this journey, I will be failing my duty if I do not acknowledge the guidance and contributions of themany Customs Officers, and all those within the Association who helpedus to takethe Association to heights - what we are today in the over one decade of our existence. To name a few and to whom I would like record my gratitude are …

Mr. Rajiv Shan – Vice President
Mr. Shashikant Kulkarni – Secretary
Mr. Jayant Tophkhane – Jt. Secretary
Mr. Vinod Sharma – Treasurer
Mr. S. Y. Ranade – Member
Mr. Jakir Shaikh – Member.

We have very clear object and so as founder president we came out with Tag Line of “Together We Grow” with planning of various programmes and other activities we came long way today and that gives me satisfaction that with humble start we have cover almost all the activities which were planed while starting of this Association.

I really feel proud and blessed to be Founder President of Pune Custom House Agents Association, and more so, for the trust and faith that you have all reposed on me. I am happy that even today, we all presidents and past presidents work in same humble and unstinted manner to ensure our Association grows from “Strength to Strength”

God bless us all and our Association! Jai Ho!!