GMIS 2023 ushers in a new age of sustainable development: Sonowal

Mumbai: "Modi ji has given us another target to further scale the growth story of India. To achieve this, GMIS plays a pivotal role and I am happy to share the mammoth of exchange of ideas as well as understandings with clear vision to make India a developed country by 2047”, said Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday in Mumbai. The minister clearly looked elated after successful MoU signing worth Rs 2.37 lakh crores on the second day of GMIS 2023.

Sonowal indicated that GMIS 2023 has ushered in a new age in sustainable development of the country with a record number of MoU signing that is related to green ports, renewable energy and sustainability. “Today, at the Global Maritime India Summit, 2023 has ushered a new age in sustainable development of the country with a record number of 70 MoUs with an investment of Rs 2.37 lakh crores", he said.

Bilateral ministerial meetings

The Union Minister also held Ministerial level bilateral meetings with Ministers from Italy, Tanzania and Sri Lanka. The first meeting was with the Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport (Minister of Ports), Italy, Edoardo Rixi. Both the ministers agreed to enhance maritime cooperation on identified industries in order to build on the robust maritime relationship between the two countries. Secretary ports, shipping and waterways TK Ramchandran was also present in the meeting.

During the second meeting, the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal met 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 insightful 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.

Another session related to the latest trends in shipping & maritime logistics and dredging chaired by MoS Shantanu Thakur wherein Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also deliberated virtually on developing inland waterways as an integrated element of multimodal economic corridors. During the session, 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.

The 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.

Important: PSU Watch has a dedicated section for all news related to GMIS 2023. Click here to read more

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)