The Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), 2023,Mumbai recorded major investment of Rs 2.37 lakh crores on the second day of the three day summit held at the MMRDA grounds, Bandra Kurla Complex.
As many as 70 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) were signed in green hydrogen & ammonia, port led development, business & commerce, ship building, knowledge sharing and port connectivity during the day.
Post the MoU signing ceremony, the Union Minister, Sarbananda Sonowal, said, “The maritime sector is playing an instrumental role as it has paved the way for India set sail towards Green Sustainability Transportation. "
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also held bilateral meetings with ministers from Italy, Tanzania and Sri Lanka. The first meeting was with the Deputy Minister, Infrastructure and Transport (Minister of Ports), Italy, Edoardo Rixi. The meeting was also attended by the Secretary of Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, TK Ramachandran.
Both the ministers agreed to
enhance maritime cooperation on identified industries in order to build on the robust maritime relationship between the two countries.
At the second meeting, the Union Minister of Shipping & Ports Sarbananda Sonowal met with the Minister of Blue Economy and Fisheries, Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar, Tanzania, Suleiman Masoud Madame.
In the third meeting, the Minister of Ports,Shipping & Aviation, Sri Lanka, Siripala De Silva met with the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal where the two discussed multiple issues to further
strengthen and deepen the maritime relationship between the two countries.
The second day of the GMIS featured a series of sessions, each
addressing critical aspects of the maritime industry ranging from green shipping and ports to the latest trends in shipping and maritime logistics.
The first session chaired by Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Minister of State, Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Government of India initiated the discussion around the role of the shipping sector in aligning with the goals set by the Ministry of
Environment and Forests for a sustainable and environmentally responsible future. This was followed by sessions related to the latest trends in shipping and maritime logistics and dredging chaired by Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India.
Union Minister of Road
Transport & Highways, Government of India, Nitin Gadkari deliberated
virtually on developing inland waterways as an integrated element of multimodal
economic corridors and strategies and roadmap to promote coastal shipping as
preferred mode of transport were discussed.
Shripad Yesso Naik, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways and
Tourism, Government of India highlighted the various measures and initiatives to promote cruise tourism during his session.
Day 2 of the GMIS 2023 concluded with a roundtable on Chabahar Post and
its role in enhancing regional connectivity and its inclusion in INSTC
(International North-South Transport Corridor) co-chaired by Sarbananda
Sonowal and Meenakshi Lekhi, Minister of State for External Affairs & State
for Culture, Government of India.
In a boost to amp up maritime trade and commerce via National Waterways 2
(Brahmaputra), a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the India Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IBCCI) and a company named A to Exit.
The memorandum has set the framework to explore various destinations of the Northeast
region of India and Bangladesh. This endeavour will provide support by
facilitating adequate volume of trade that needs to be shipped or imported into Bhutan from India, Bangladesh and other countries using Indian ports.