MNI 2017 calls for collaborative approach to leverage maritime sector

September 14, 2017: The second international conference and exhibition of the maritime industry, Maritime Nation India saw huge footfall on the first day of the event, held at the CIDCO exhibition Centre, Navi Mumbai.

The event was inaugurated by DG Shipping Malini Shankar, in the presence of Captain Anoop Kumar Sharma, Chairman & Managing Director of The Shipping Corporation of India; DUW De Zoysa, Director (Logistics) Sri Lanka Ports Authority; STAT Media founder RK Patra, Maritime World Services co-founder Subhasis Ghosh and other dignitaries.

Maritime Nation India served as a platform for the business interactions amongst the foreign delegates, exhibitors, speakers and Indian maritime professionals, who exchanged their views on all maritime areas.

The first panel of the day discussed on the need of collaboration to leverage India as a maritime nation, emphasizing on trade lanes and shipping. The panel was moderated by Jaideep Ghosh, COO-Management Consulting, KPMG and among the panelist were Pramod Sant, vice president, head of import and export, export control and custom, Siemens; Niraj Ambani, president- group logistics, Reliance; DG Shipping Malini Shankar; Captain Anoop Kumar Sharma; and Shantanu Bhadkamkar, MD (Group CEO) of ATC Group.

Shankar stated that the government is taking several initiatives to leverage the maritime industry. She said that inland waterways are being rejuvenated to give Indian maritime a fillip. She however also stated that the shipping sector is influenced by the ups and downs in the global and Indian economy, which are not improving that well. “We are ready to take advantage when the economy moves up,” she said.

Meanwhile, commenting over the topic, Captain Sharma stated that while nobody can do anything much about the international market, the maritime industry should manage the costs, try and buy new ships and encourage more mergers and acquisitions as when larger players come in, rates will definitely improve. He also said that new trade lanes are also likely to open for India, when Chabahar Port starts operating. During the event, he also announced that the SCI has crossed six million DWT, terming it as a historic moment for the organisation. He also informed that Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) has taken over a second hand VLGC (very large Gas Carrier), which is 15 years old and the youngest in the Indian Fleet.

The panel agreed on the fact that collaboration between the private sector and the government along with technology upgradation are a must to eliminate inefficiencies and for process simplification.

Photo Caption: (L to R) Pramod Sant, Niraj Ambani, Malini Shankar, Captain Anoop Kumar Sharma, Shantanu Bhadkamkar, Jaideep Ghosh