Shri Susanta Kumar Purohit, Chairperson of V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, delivered the Opening Remarks at the session titled “AI-Powered Ports: Reimagining Efficiency and Operations” held at Bharat Mandapam.
Addressing an audience of policymakers, industry leaders and maritime professionals, Shri Purohit underscored that in an era marked by global supply-chain disruptions, ports can no longer be viewed as standalone logistics assets. Instead, they have emerged as critical pillars of national economic resilience and industrial competitiveness.
Aligning his remarks with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi for world-class and future-ready infrastructure, the Chairperson emphasised that physical expansion and modernisation of port infrastructure alone will not suffice to address evolving global challenges.
Highlighting the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence, he stated that AI must be perceived not merely as a technological add-on, but as a powerful governance and decision-making capability. He noted that AI-driven systems can enable faster trade flows, improve operational efficiency, strengthen environmental sustainability, and facilitate workforce adaptation in an increasingly digital ecosystem.
The session featured an eminent panel of experts, including Prof. (Dr.) Gourav Vallabh (EAC-PM), Mr. T. K. Ramachandran (Former Secretary, MoPSW), Shri Manish Jaiswal (J M Baxi Group), Mr. Subrat Tripathy (APSEZ Ltd.), and Ms. Aprajita Rana (AZB & Partners). The discussion was moderated by Dr. Manish Tiwari, Director, IGPP.
The deliberations reinforced the growing consensus that the integration of AI into port ecosystems is set to redefine efficiency benchmarks and strengthen India’s position in global maritime trade.