Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), Kandla, organised a Maritime Festival-cum-Roadshow in Gandhidham, Gujarat, as a precursor to India Maritime Week 2025. The event was held on the theme “International Cooperation – Smart Ports: Gateways to Prosperity,” highlighting India’s leadership in the global maritime domain and the importance of smart, sustainable and technology-driven port development.
The programme commenced with a welcome address by Sushil Kumar Singh, IRSME, Chairman, DPA, who outlined India’s maritime progress under the Prime Minister’s leadership and urged stakeholders to actively participate in India Maritime Week 2025 to enhance collaboration across the maritime value chain.
The keynote address was delivered virtually by Rajkumar Beniwal, IAS, Vice Chairman & CEO, Gujarat Maritime Board, who stressed on innovation, efficiency and strong government-industry synergy to modernise ports and boost India’s global trade competitiveness.
The highlight of the event was a panel discussion on “Smart Ports: Gateways to Prosperity,” moderated by Nilabhra Dasgupta, IRS, Deputy Chairman, DPA. Eminent industry leaders and maritime experts shared insights on technological advancement, operational efficiency and sustainability in the evolution of smart ports. Key focus areas included technology integration, public-private partnerships and international cooperation as drivers of global excellence.
The session concluded with remarks by Nilabhra Dasgupta and a vote of thanks by V. Raveendra Reddy, Chief Engineer, DPA.
The roadshow served as a platform for knowledge exchange and stakeholder engagement, reaffirming DPA’s commitment to advancing India’s maritime growth in line with the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amritkaal Vision 2047.