Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, actively participated in the Singapore Maritime Week (SMW), where he engaged with global maritime leaders to discuss strategies for ensuring a secure, sustainable, and prosperous future for the shipping industry. During his address at the event, Sonowal reaffirmed India’s commitment to digitalization and modernizing its maritime sector. He highlighted key initiatives such as the ONOP, NLP (Marine), and MAITRI programs, which aim to streamline port operations and enhance real-time data sharing, making India’s ports more efficient and technologically advanced.

As part of his visit, Sonowal held important discussions with prominent global leaders, including Singapore’s Senior Minister and former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as well as Philippe Tabarot, France’s Minister of Transport. These meetings focused on strengthening bilateral partnerships and exploring opportunities for maritime investments and technological collaboration. Additionally, he engaged with industry leaders such as Jeremy Nixon, the Global CEO of ONE, to encourage greater cooperation between the government and the private sector in advancing maritime infrastructure and operations.

Sonowal also outlined India’s strategic vision for enhancing global maritime connectivity and strengthening supply chains through key initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and the Eastern Maritime Corridor. As part of India’s long-term maritime development plans, he announced a substantial USD 20 billion investment aimed at upgrading logistics and port infrastructure. This ambitious initiative is expected to significantly boost India’s global cargo share, with a target of increasing it from 6% to 15% by the year 2047.

A strong focus on sustainability was evident in Sonowal’s discussions, as he highlighted India’s efforts to develop Green Hydrogen Hub Ports in Kandla, Tuticorin, and Paradip. These projects aim to support the transition toward low-emission shipping and environmentally friendly maritime operations. He also underscored India’s leadership in the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Green Voyage 2050 initiative, which seeks to assist developing nations in adopting cleaner energy solutions and making their maritime industries more sustainable. In his closing remarks, Sonowal reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to fostering a maritime future that is green, secure, and inclusive. He emphasized the importance of global partnerships in transforming current challenges into opportunities for long-term growth and sustainability. Quoting a unifying message, he stated that “Oceans unite us,” stressing the need for collective efforts in achieving a resilient and progressive maritime sector.

Disclaimer: This Image is taken from ANI News.