“India can lead from the front,” said Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal. He added that India’s maritime sector is poised for growth, owing to proactive government policies around, ports, shipping and inland waterways.
"With an identified investment opportunity of more than Rs 10 lakh crores in the maritime sector of the country, we are standing at a threshold of a major economic upswing which can generate employment opportunities for more than 15 lakhs youth of India," Sonowal said.
The minister said that the huge potential of India’s marine sector can play a significant and pivotal role in elevating the economic cycle towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat by 2047 - a vision of our dynamic Prime Minister Narendra Modi. As key driver of India’s maritime sector, our ministry has been organising the Global Maritime India Summit, to create value from the vast potential of India’s rich maritime sector.
He further expressed the hope that the most accomplished individuals in the maritime sector would utilize their goodwill, intention, intelligence, and expertise to formulate a comprehensive roadmap for the sustainable growth of both the maritime sector and the country as a whole.
Sonowal further added, “We invite all the maritime stakeholders in India and globally to be part of these investment opportunities. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India is spearheading the advancement of regional trade within BIMSTEC region, taking a prominent role in the development of various regional projects. India is actively driving the establishment of 5,000 km of multi-country waterways, a significant initiative that will effectively facilitate trade and transportation across the region.”
The Union Minister said, "India stands firmly on its commitment to developing environmentally conscious shipping solutions. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji, India proudly occupies the second rank in recycling worldwide, with a clear objective to ascend to the top position within the forthcoming two decades. To propel this vision, we plan to inaugurate carbon-neutral alternatives and boost the use of battery-powered vehicles and apparatus in our major ports. With a vast coastline and over 200 ports, India holds a strategic position in global trade. The country has made impressive strides under transformative initiatives like Sagarmala and the Prime Minister’s Gati Shakti National Master Plan, which have modernised port infrastructure, enhanced connectivity, and facilitated port-led industrialisation."
Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shripad Naik, said, "The Global Maritime India Summit 2023 represents a crucial milestone in our efforts to position India as a global maritime hub. Through collaborative discussions and strategic partnerships, we aim to propel our maritime sector towards sustainable growth, bolstered by innovation and cutting-edge technology."
Rajiv Jalota, Chairman, Indian Ports Association & Mumbai Port Authority; Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Bhushan Kumar, Joint Secretary (SM), Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Rajesh Tandon, CEO, Foreign Owners Representative, Ship Managers Association; Anil Devli, CEO, Indian National Shipowners Association; Dhruv Kotak, Chairman, Ports & Shipping, FICCI Committee on Transport Infrastructure & MD, JM Taxi Group along with Shailesh Pathak, Secretary General, FICCI also spoke on the occasion.
The curtain raiser concluded with the unveiling of the official GMIS 2023 brochure and the launch of the event's website and mobile app to provide a comprehensive overview of the summit's agenda and thematic sessions and will serve as essential resources for participants.