In a remarkable display of economic prowess, India’s maritime docks reaped the benefits of substantial investments, amounting to a staggering ₹2.37 trillion on the second day of the Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS).
An impressive tally of approximately 70 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) was formalized across an array of maritime sectors. These encompassed critical areas such as port development, green hydrogen & ammonia ventures, port-led growth initiatives, business & commerce, shipbuilding, knowledge exchange, and port connectivity.
The auspicious signing ceremony was graced by the presence of prominent figures, including the Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shripad Naik, and the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shantanu Thakur.
Sonowal, during the momentous event, highlighted the significance of the GMIS 2023, hailing it as the dawn of a new era in the nation’s sustainable development. He expressed that this multitude of MoUs, translating into an investment worth ₹2.37 lakh crores, underscores the pivotal role played by the maritime sector in advancing India towards eco-friendly and sustainable transportation.
Minister Sonowal also conducted high-level bilateral discussions with his counterparts from Italy, Tanzania, and Sri Lanka.
The second day of GMIS 2023 featured a series of enlightening sessions, each addressing pivotal aspects of the maritime industry. Topics ranged from the realm of green shipping and ports to the latest trends in shipping and maritime logistics. Notably, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, Nitin Gadkari, engaged in virtual discussions about the integration of inland waterways into multimodal economic corridors and the formulation of strategies to promote coastal shipping as the preferred mode of transportation.
The day’s activities culminated with a roundtable discussion centered on the Chabahar Port and its role in enhancing regional connectivity, including its integration into the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC).
On the inaugural day of the summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stones for 21 projects worth ₹18,800 crores, and 34 MoUs were signed, amounting to ₹3.24 lakh crore during the inaugural session.
