ABRAHAM K OOMMEN
Rising with the zeal of the new era
The global supply network is a complex web which connects manufacturers, exporters, importers, rail, truck, Air and Ocean transport providers. The Shipping Agent or the Cargo and Freight agents take orders from customers and arrange transportation of the goods from Origin to Destination. They also prepare all necessary documents, such as insurance forms and escriptions of the cargo: amount, type, weight, and dimensions and also clear the cargo through Customs.
Even excellent business ideas can be useless if you cannot formulate, execute and implement a strategic plan to make one’s business idea work
UNITED MARINE AGENCIES (UMA), is a Kochi based shipping company that has risen with the zeal of the new era, to address the need for exceptional global shipping agency and supply services, which prides in itself in being a 11-year-old business house which offers services in Ports, International Logistics and Technology. International Marine Logistics service is their long-established business vertical. (UMA) is one of the popular shipping/customs brokering agency in Kochi which could establish its presence and Goodwill in a short span of time. They have been known for their swift and instant responsive agency service which attends to the emergency calls of the trade without fail. This has helped them build a loyal customer base over the years.
They started their journey in 2012 and ever since, they have ensured that the customer remains the center of their business operations. United Marine Agencies is sailing under the captaincy of Mr. Abraham.K.Oommen who has qualified in Rule 9 and Rule 8 of the Custom House Agents Licensing Examination conducted by the Central Board of Customs and Central excise in India in the year 1987 and 2010 respectively. With a total of 36 years in the Industry, he has experience in Customs Brokering, Sea-Air Freight forwarding, NVOCC operations, Shipping Agency work etc. He is also experienced in fixing and handling tramp and bulk vessels. His strong and long lasting relationship with various shipping companies has enabled him to secure the best tonnage for his clients. He is also a qualified general insurance advisor and the insurancesection of UMA, arranges insurance for all types of cargoes like marine, automobile, general insurance etc. His massive knowledge and commitment to the trade coupled with the sincere involve ment of his team empower the company to offer a fantastic service to the trade.
Mr. Abraham.K.Oommen was born and brought up at, Mundakayam village in Kanjirappilly the “Queen of Malanad” – A small, but stunningly green kingdom, with immeasurable beauty which is dotted with rubber plantations, where most trees slant eastwards, as though reaching for the sun. The business minded Abraham K Oommen also was inclined to reach the sun in his professional career with unparalleled success. He had his schooling at St. Germains at Mundakkayam.
With a postgraduate in Economics, he pursued learning computer softwares like COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language) to create executable computer programs. But destiny took over with an unexpected turning point in his life, opening the gates to the Shipping world to become a Customs Broker (CB) or a Customs House Agent (CHA).
The Freight chain is incomplete without the Customs Broker as they link various offices for one solution ie. for ‘zero’ error and a satisfactory Exim business. With experience of working in different Ports in the Country, he points out that In India, to be a qualified CB/CHA, one needs to clear the Customs Broker Licensing Regulation (CBLR) exam to obtain a license in India for undertaking Export and Import customs clearance works. The person authorized under these regulations can operate as an agent for all the Import – Export business transactions of goods and for the entry and departure of conveyances like vessels at custom ports or stations. Since this work requires utmost efficiency and expertise, the work is governed by the regulations of the Indian Customs Act, 1962.
When the popular shipping forwarding business shot up, top service providers like A V Thomas & Company Ltd absorbed him. Again Fortune favoured him with an offer to an executive post in Harrisons Malayalam Group. From there, in the year 1996, together with a friend, he started his first business venture in Clearing and Forwarding. Then in the year 2012 he started on his own, the current United Marine Agencies (UMA) in Kochi. UMA now has branches in Tuticorin and Kochi with associates in all the major ports with progress to expand to other business areas as well. With the focus on developing solutions, they strive to get the shipment to its destination in the fastest and most cost effective manner with the best options possible. With the motto of “Client is King”, to Abraham, there is vast difference between a job and a business. His business is his passion. “ We stick on to give good service regardless of the complexity of the task”, he says.
He is happily married to Dr. Annieta Philip, Associate Professor of Physics at Cochin College and is blessed with two sons. Like father like son -the elder son is a post graduate in Economics with MBA in International ransportation and Logistics Management and follows his father by profession into Shipping. The second son is into Finance and has completed CMA from the Institute of Cost Accountants of India and is presently working with an American healthcare Company. Benjamin Franklin once said, “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail”. Even excellent business ideas can be useless if you cannot formulate, execute and implement a strategic plan to make one’s business idea work, says Abraham K Oommen. “ Think Task, Not Time” is his mantra.
Contact Mr Abraham K Oommen Mob: 9745768020
