Ministerial Lead at Curtain Raiser to Global Maritime India Summit, 2023

Padmesh Prabhune

Photos awaited

The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Mr Sarbananda Sonowal launched the Curtain Raiser in Mumbai on 18^th July of the upcoming Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), 2023 organized in association with FICCI.

Underscoring its huge national importance, the event was also attended by the Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Tourism, Mr Shripad Naik.

Addressing the curtain raiser, Mr Sonowal emphasized the vital role of the maritime sector in India’s economic progress and the potential it holds for the Asia-Pacific region. “India can lead from the front,” said Mr Sonowal. He added that India’s maritime sector is poised for growth, owing to proactive government policies around ports, shipping and inland waterways.

Urging maritime stakeholders across India and globally to be a part of these investment opportunities, Mr Sonowal said, “Our ministry has been organising the Global Maritime India Summit to create value from the vast potential of India’s rich maritime sector. With identified investment opportunities of more than Rs 10 lakh crores in the maritime sector of the country, we are standing at a threshold of a major economic upswing which can generate employment opportunities for more than 15 lakh youth of India.

Mr Rajiv Jalota, Chairman, Indian Ports Association & Mumbai Port Authority; Mr Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Mr Bhushan Kumar, Joint Secretary (SM), Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways; Mr Anil Devli, CEO, Indian National Shipowners Association; Mr Dhruv Kotak, Chairman, Ports & Shipping, FICCI Committee on Transport Infrastructure & MD, JM Baxi Group, along with Mr Shailesh Pathak, Secretary General, FICCI, spoke on the occasion, highlighting the  significance of the summit to be held later in the year.

Capt Rajesh Tandon, CEO, Foreign Ship-owners Representatives and Ship Managers Association (FOSMA), delivered a forceful speech, urging the Ministry to add its weight to boosting India’s share of the global seafaring industry. (Extracts reproduced alongside)

The Global Maritime India Summit is scheduled for 17th-19th October 2023, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi, with visitors from 50 countries expected to participate. The focus areas of GMIS, 2023 are Ports of the Future; Decarbonization; Coastal Shipping & Inland Waterways Transportation; Shipbuilding, Repair & Recycling; Finance, Insurance & Arbitration; Innovation & technology; Maritime Safety & Security, and Maritime Tourism.

The event is aimed at unlocking potential for new investment opportunities along with collaborations for knowledge and technology to enhance cooperation in trade, and promote Ease of Doing Business (EODB).

Marex Media

Opportunity to increase market share of Indian Seafarers

Capt Rajesh Tandon, CEO, FOSMA                                                       

Vital Extracts of the Speech

While most if not all efforts & initiatives of the upcoming Global Maritime India Summit are focused on attracting foreign investments & business in India, I would like to use this platform to highlight the opportunity that we have in increasing our market share in providing a skilled seafaring workforce to the global maritime community.

At a recent seminar, at a global event in Manila, titled- “Shaping the Future of Shipping – Seafarer 2050”, it was pointed out that there is a critical need for re-skilling and up-skilling seafarers in the face of technological advancements happening in the shipping industry. It was estimated that approximately 800,000 seafarers worldwide will be requiring new skills before 2030.

The shipping industry is undergoing significant transformation driven by automation, digitalization, Artificial Intelligence and green technologies. In addition to technical skills the emphasis on safety and environmental compliance is paramount.

India with its vast pool of a skilled workforce and maritime heritage has this great opportunity to position itself as a key contributor to the evolving shipping landscape, while aligning with the technology changes necessitated by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNDGS).

Becoming a leading force in global seafarer supply not only holds economic advantages but also aligns with India’s national interests. It can enhance employment opportunities, drive technological innovations, attract foreign investments, and bolster the country’s reputation as a reliable maritime nation.

To seize this opportunity, India has to cultivate a skilled workforce capable of meeting the challenges of the fast changing industry. In my humble view it is of key importance to create awareness of the maritime industry at all levels especially at the secondary school levels. This is where I see a big disconnect, perhaps we can have an offline working group to look at this.

We must prioritize collaboration among all stakeholders including government agencies, shipping companies, training institutions, Industry associations, and foster partnerships, in order to build and cement our position as a global hub for skilled seafarers, and meet the demands of an evolving industry.

And before I close… I would like to share that the manning industry in India has organized a Global ShipManning & Training Summit India 2023, organised by ATPI-Marex Media and to be held on September 13-14, 2023, and if permitted we could make a presentation to share its outcomes at the GMIS 2023 in October.