A new Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre under the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) will be established at the Maritime Training Institute in Powai, Mumbai. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced this during the second BIMSTEC Ports Conclave held in Visakhapatnam.
Sonowal emphasized that the centre will operationalize the recently signed BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC). It aims to harmonize maritime policies, promote digital and green transformations, and enhance the skills of the maritime workforce. The initiative is expected to reduce trade costs and improve connectivity, positioning the Bay of Bengal as a sustainable trade hub.
The Minister described the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave as a catalyst for sustainable development in port-led industrial clusters. He called for collaboration among member nations to strengthen industrialization, digital integration, and skill development, which will enhance cruise tourism and coastal economic zones.
The inaugural session also featured Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur, BIMSTEC Secretary General Mani Pandey, and other officials, alongside 28 delegates from member nations. The Minister urged for the swift ratification and implementation of the AMTC.
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