Sonowal calls for maximising maritime trade potential

Kolkata: Sonowal calls for maximising maritime trade potential

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal recently attended a crucial meeting of stakeholders of maritime development in the Bay of Bengal area in Kolkata.

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, after interacting with the envoys of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal, as well as industry and trade representatives, called for greater cooperation among all the stakeholders for unlocking value in the maritime sector of the region.

Sonowal also underlined that Narendra Modi Government remains deeply committed to ensuring the Act East Policy reach its maximum potential for growth and development in the eastern region of India as well as India’s neighbouring countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal.

Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, “The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is yet another boost to rationalise logistical paradigm and make an attractive business proposition. The maritime sector as well as the inland waterways sector are major agents of change in this visionary scheme of transportation, which is likely to transform cargo movement through an economic, sustainable and efficient mode. In this momentous journey, we aspire your active support and swift cooperation to extrapolate maximum value creation for everyone.”

The meet was also attended by senior leaders of the corporate world like Steel Authority of India Limited, Tata Steel, India Oil Corporation, Haldia Petrochemicals Limited., Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Jindal Steel, MAERSK Shipping Lines and many others.

Some of the key issues deliberated in the meeting were Trade through National Waterways 1 and 2 to NER for ensuring transit transportation of North East Cargo through Bangladesh/North East Region/Myanmar, to strengthen Trade Ties with Bangladesh through facilitation of movement of goods between SMP Kolkata and various ports of Bangladesh (Chittagong, Mongla) involving IWAI; Collaboration with Myanmar's Sittwe Port in Myanmar, as a part of KMMTTP, to transport cargo to NE India, via Mizoram; Using Deep Drafted Facilities within SMPK limits for overcoming the constraints of the shallow draft for STS/Transshipment operations; Capacity Enhancements at SMPK through PPP Mode.

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