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MUMBAI, INDIA: India’s largest maritime event, the Global Maritime India Summit 2023 (GMIS2023) concluded in Mumbai.
The three-day event held from October 17 to 19 included panel discussions, technical sessions, roundtables, state sessions, informative exhibitions, memorandum of understanding (MOU) deals and beneficial networking among the stakeholders.
Around 4,500 distinguished dignitaries and delegates from Nepal, India and around 70 other countries participated in the event.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi opened the third edition of GMIS 2023 in Mumbai via video conferencing. He also unveiled ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’ and laid the foundation stone for projects of more than Rs 230 billion for the Indian maritime blue economy. The vision outlines strategic initiatives with the objective of enhancing port facilities, promoting sustainable practices and facilitating international collaborations.
India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, State chief ministers, and State finance ministers actively participated in various sessions and panel discussions.
A delegation led by Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Secretary Keshab Kumar Sharma represented Nepal at GMIS2023.
During a session and panel discussion delegate Bikas Rauniar (Executive Director of Interstate Multimodal Transport) raised issues related to landlocked countries like Nepal and Bhutan that have been facing more challenges due to unpredictable high shipping charges, expenses at ports and importers not being able to predict the total cost of shipping and transportation in advance resulting in negative trade consequences.
A representative from India’s Niti Aayog responded suggesting that the government’s concerned ministry should sympathetically deal with the landlocked countries' needs in line with international laws and rights of landlocked countries.
