Port to port International Corp., a shipping company located south of Wilmington, was named to the “Hot 500” list released by Entrepreneur magazine Founded by Anabel Panayotti in 1998, Port to Port has managed to make a name for itself in the maritime community in Delaware because and exponential growth in recent years.

Panayotti and business partner Gwen North have managed to buy more land, export more cars and hire more people in a short period of time.

Four years ago, port to port consisted of a container office with about a dozen workers on a 6-acr lot near the port of Wilmington (USA), Costa Rica, Honduras and Guatemala.

The business began with a $15,000 investment in 1998 and earned its first million the following years.

In 2006, annual sales for port to port were $16.8 million.

Behind port to port’s growth is what seems like never-ending demand for used cars in Central America.

Since there are no large auto manufacturers in that region, and most people there can’t afford to import new, expensive cars from the United States and other countries, exporting used cars is big business.

Her customers are primarily auto dealers from Central America who come to America to purchase wrecked cars and other used vehicles from auctions hoping to ship them abroad.

Port to port completes all the paperwork and fulfills shipping requirements for the vehicles.

The company ships 560 used cars a week to Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua on empty banana ships owned by Chiquita and Dole heading back to Central America from Wilmington.

Ford launched a joint-venture factory with Mazda in China to make small car under Ford and Mazda brands for the Chinese market, the automaker, said.

The $510 million facility is located in the eastern city of Nanjing has an initial capacity of 160,000 vehicles a year, boosting Ford’s annual passenger car capacity in China to more than 410,000 vehicles.

Made in India auto-rickshaws better know in the world as tuk-tuks, could soon be ssen on the streets of London if an application by a company to run a fleet in the West End is successful.

Tuc Tuc Ltd, the brainchild of entrepreneur Dominic Ponniah, has been running a fleet of same auto-rickshaws in the seaside town of Brighton since July 2006.

The fleet, imported from Pune, runs on compressed natural gas (CNG).

Now the company is all set to introduce the vehicle in London.

Transport for London, the organization responsible for transport matters, is considering an application for a fleet of auto-rickshaws to operate in the West End.

The auto-rickshaws imported by the company from India have a stronger chassis, cushioned headrests, reinforced exits and seat belts to improve safety.

They also have TV screens showing news and ad.

Each auto-rickshaw allowed to operate in Brighton was tested to satisfy the requirements of the vehicle and Operator Service Agency.

Transport for London is expected to consult local councils and the Metropolitan Police before granting permission.

Government of Uganda has recently announced the new list of registration fees on imported new & used cars, motorcycles, tractors and other vehicles.

Every September 22, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighborhood blocks to remind the world that we don’t have to accept our car-dominated society.

This year also, major cities held car-free day on September 22, to promote eco-friendly transport policy transport.

Promoters of car-free day say, when people get out of their cars, they should stay out of their cars.

It is up to us, it is up to our cities, and our government to help create pedestrians, cyclists, and other people who do not drive cars.

As the climate heats up, World Car-free Day is the perfect time to take the heat off the planet, and put it on city planners to give priority to cycling, walking and public transport instead of to the automobile.