Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 14 (ANI): Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday said that West Bengal is poised to receive investment worth Rs 1 trillion in the maritime sector and that will make the state a maritime hub in near future. The Union Minister was speaking during the roadshow organised by Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMPK) for the ensuing Global Maritime India Summit, 2023 (GMIS) in Kolkata on Monday.
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.
Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said, “Inspired by the vision of Honourable Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, 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 and 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 the maritime sector in enabling and empowering the eastern part of India. The maritime sector is the lifeline of the Indian economy contributing more than 90 per cent of EXIM cargo by volume and about 70 per cent by value.”
Highlighting the role of the private sector, 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 the development of new ports and augmentation of capacity in the existing ports. PPP terminals, which are currently handling about 50 per cent of cargo at major ports, are striving to raise their share to 100 per cent in the coming decade.”
“West Bengal is poised to receive investment worth Rs 1 trillion in the maritime sector and that will make the state a maritime hub in the near future. In view of the above, active and wholehearted 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.” he added. (ANI)
