Kerala to Advance Marine Industry Skills through Public-Private Partnerships

State Minister of Ports V. N. Vasavan emphasized the importance of the public-private partnership model in developing qualified experts for the marine industry at the Kerala Maritime Education Conference (KMEC 2024). He highlighted ongoing discussions on enhancing the activities of maritime colleges in Kerala through the PPP model to address the industry’s need for skilled workers. The minister pointed to successful examples like Vizhinjam Port to showcase the potential benefits of this approach.

Kerala has been recognized by the Union Government as the leading marine state in the country, with plans to develop 17 non-major ports along its 590-kilometer coastline. Minister Vasavan mentioned Kollam, Beypore, and Azheekal ports as potential areas for further examination, underscoring the significant economic contribution that can be made by leveraging KMB’s operations to support the state’s transition to a knowledge economy. KMEC 2024 will delve into strategies for utilizing KMB’s functions to drive this transition.

Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan revealed India’s ranking among the top five countries for seafarers and outlined the Maritime India Vision 2030 goal of increasing the nation’s share of seafarers globally. He stressed the importance of equipping sailors with the necessary skills to meet this target, highlighting the PPP model in Kerala at Neendakara and Kodungallur as instrumental in providing technology-centric maritime education. Principal Secretary (Ports) K.S. Srinivas highlighted the diverse course offerings at KMIs, covering areas such as port operations, logistics, and marine safety. Delegates at KMEC 2024 discussed collaborations in maritime education and the broader industry landscape.

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