New Delhi, June 5 (KNN) The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday called for greater cooperation among all the stakeholders of maritime development in the Bay of Bengal for unlocking value in the maritime sector of the region.

He attended a crucial meeting along with Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shantanu Thakur in Kolkata on Sunday.

The Minister interacted with the envoys of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal as well as industry & trade representatives.

He also underlined that Narendra Modi Government remains deeply committed to enable Act East Policy reach its maximum potential for growth & development of the eastern region of India as well as India’s neighbouring countries like Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal.

The meet was also attended by senior leaders of the corporate world like SAIL, Tata Steel, IOC, Haldia Petrochemicals Ltd., BPCL, Jindal Steel, MAERSK Shipping Lines and many others.

Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Act East Policy of Government has gathered unprecedented momentum ushering a new age of growth & development in the region.”

“The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan is yet another boost to rationalise logistical paradigm and make an attractive business proposition,” he said.

The maritime sector as well as the inland waterways sector are major agents of change in this visionary scheme of transportation which is likely transform cargo movement through an economic, sustainable and efficient mode. In this momentous journey, we aspire your active support and swift cooperation to extrapolate maximum value creation for everyone, said the minister.

Some of the key issues deliberated in the meeting were Trade through National Waterways 1 and 2 to NER for ensuring transit transportation of North East Cargo through Bangladesh/North East Region/Myanmar, to strengthen Trade Ties with Bangladesh through facilitation of movement of goods between SMP Kolkata and various ports of Bangladesh (Chittagong, Mongla) involving IWAI; Collaboration with Myanmar's Sittwe Port in Myanmar, as a part of KMMTTP, to transport cargo to NE India, via Mizoram; Using Deep Drafted Facilities within SMPK limits for overcoming the constraints of shallow draft for STS/Transshipment operations; Capacity Enhancements at SMPK through PPP Mode.

The meet commenced with discussion with IWAI/allied partners regarding increased use of Inland Water Transport through River Ganga (NW1) and River Brahmaputra (NW2) via IBP/KMMTTP route.

This was followed by an interactive meet of Ministers with the Consul Generals of the neighbouring countries (Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar) of India.

The Union Minister commended all stakeholders for their stellar role in the growth of trade & commerce through SMPK and the region as a whole since 2013-14, and through continued collaboration & enterprise aided by multi-pronged initiatives.  (KNN Bureau)