The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal attended the road show organised by Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMPK) for the ensuing Global Maritime India Summit, 2023 (GMIS).
The roadshow was attended by the captains of India Inc in the city as well as top officials, technocrats as well as social leaders with an intent to encourage their participation meaningfully to “Connect, Collaborate and Create” with global investors at the forthcoming summit in New Delhi.
“Inspired by the vision of Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi ji, our ministry is organising 3rd Global Maritime India Summit, 2023 (GMIS) from 17 October to 19 October, 2023 at Bharat Mandapam with an aim to ‘Connect, Collaborate & Create.’ Today, all of you have joined us on this novel exercise to enable and empower the maritime sector of India as a true multiplier force of India’s economic growth. Kolkata, with its rich maritime heritage and strategic location, plays a pivotal role in maritime sector in enabling & empowering the eastern part of India. Maritime sector is the life line of Indian economy contributing more than 90% of EXIM cargo by volume and about 70% by value,”Sonowal said.
Sonowal further added, “Private sector is an essential partner in propelling the growth of India’s maritime sector and Public Private Partnership (PPP) has immensely contributed in development of new ports and augmentation of capacity in the existing ports. PPP terminals, which are currently handling about 50% cargo at major ports, are striving to raise its share to 100% in coming decades. ”
West Bengal is poised to receive investment worth ₹1 trillion in maritime sector and that will make the state a maritime hub in the near future, said the Union Minister.
“In view of the above, active and whole hearted participation of trade and industries in the improvement and development of port infrastructure and other ancillary facilities in India is imperative. I take this opportunity to urge all of you for your earnest participation at the forthcoming GMIS to ‘Connect, Collaborate and Create’ with global investors and become partners of an Atmanirbhar Bharat,” said Sonowal.