Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Inaugurates 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
National
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurated the 2nd edition of the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh (AP), held from July 14 to July 15, 2025. The conclave aimed to boost regional cooperation in maritime connectivity, port development, and the Blue Economy under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC).
- The event was organised by the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) and brought together senior officials, policymakers, and industry stakeholders from BIMSTEC member countries. The central theme of the conclave was ‘Navigating the Future: Blue Economy, Innovation and Sustainable Partnerships’, with an emphasis on leveraging maritime infrastructure for sustainable regional growth.
- The 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave focused on operationalising the BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC), which was signed during the 6th BIMSTEC Summit in April 2025 in Bangkok, Thailand.
- The agreement aims to strengthen regional maritime trade, logistics, cruise tourism, and skill development. Notably, India was the first country to sign the AMTC, signifying its leadership in maritime cooperation in the Bay of Bengal region.
Main Point :- (i) Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal also announced the establishment of a BIMSTEC Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre at the Indian Ocean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport (IOCE-SMaRT), located at the Maritime Training Institute in Powai, Mumbai (Maharashtra). The centre will serve as a hub for advanced maritime training and sustainable logistics solutions across BIMSTEC countries.
(ii) During the event, the Minister also launched several capacity-building and development initiatives worth over ₹276 crore at the Visakhapatnam Port, aimed at boosting port infrastructure, digital connectivity, and cargo handling efficiency. These initiatives are aligned with India’s Sagarmala vision and the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan.
(iii) Additionally, the Union Minister laid foundation stones for six major port infrastructure projects in Visakhapatnam with a total investment exceeding ₹116 crore. These projects are aimed at reducing logistics costs, enhancing port-led development, and promoting maritime innovation in the Bay of Bengal region.
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