12th October 1659
The port of Kochi, Shivaji Shipyard
Dozens of Europeans sat in the lounge of the Shivaji Shipyard with anticipation and eagerness as they waited patiently to place orders for the new generation of Bharatiya military vessels. Only a few months ago, the situation would have been impossible, as Thiruvananthapuram was the only city in the empire where European imports and exports were allowed, however, after the war, that ceased to be the case. The majority of European countries that agreed to remain neutral were given permits to travel to any trading port of the empire.
However, Despite the green light from the government, Thiruvananthapuram, even after such a momentous decision, remained the primary trading outpost for the Europeans and still is, and probably will continue to be for the foreseeable future. However, a few European merchants saw the advantage of other ports as well.
