Mumbai: The Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) will establish a Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre at the Maritime Training Institute in Powai, Mumbai.
The centre will operate under the Indian Ocean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport (IOCE-SMarT) framework.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced the development during the inaugural session of the second BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam on Monday. The event was organised by the Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA).
The minister described the centre as a significant step toward operationalising the recently-signed BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC).
He stated that the facility would serve as a catalyst for harmonising maritime policies, advancing digital and green transformation, and building the skills and capacity of the maritime workforce.
Sonowal emphasised that the centre would foster collaboration and innovation to reduce trade costs, enhance connectivity, and position the Bay of Bengal as a vibrant, sustainable hub for regional and global trade.
He characterised the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave as a springboard for sustainable development of port-led industrial clusters.
The Union Minister outlined the platform’s objectives to enhance collaboration among member nations for strengthening port-led industrialisation, digital integration, and skill development.
These efforts are expected to boost cruise tourism and foster coastal economic zones, creating a seamless and efficient network of ports that can serve as engines of growth.
Sonowal called for the speedy ratification and implementation of the AMTC agreement.
The two-day conference’s inaugural session was attended by Union Minister of State for MoPSW Shantanu Thakur, BIMSTEC Secretary General Mani Pandey, MoPSW Secretary TK Ramachandran, and VPA & DCI Chairman M Angamuthu, along with 28 delegates from all BIMSTEC member nations.
