Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the second edition of the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam, marking a major push to strengthen regional maritime connectivity and sustainable port-led growth across the Bay of Bengal.

The two-day event brought together policymakers, port authorities, maritime experts, private sector players, and scholars from all seven BIMSTEC member nations — Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. The conclave aims to operationalise the recently ratified BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC), enhance regional integration, and promote sustainable development.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Sonowal described the conclave as a springboard for unlocking the vast potential of the Blue Economy. He emphasised India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy and the importance of BIMSTEC nations in advancing shared regional prosperity through collaboration in port-led industrialisation, digital logistics, cruise tourism, and maritime skill development.

India, the first country to ratify the AMTC, is leading efforts to establish the BIMSTEC Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre under the Indian Ocean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport (IOCE-SMarT) at the Maritime Training Institute in Powai, Mumbai. This centre will support policy harmonisation, promote digital and green maritime transformation, and upskill the regional maritime workforce.

The conclave featured two key sessions: the first focused on mobilising private investment and public–private partnerships (PPPs) to address ageing port infrastructure and fragmented coordination, while the second explored the region’s potential as a manufacturing and logistics hub amid global supply chain shifts. Both sessions underlined the need for harmonised policies, multimodal connectivity, and regional PPP platforms.

Further discussions included plans to develop port-linked industrial zones, cruise tourism through joint branding and infrastructure, and proposals for a BIMSTEC Ports Coordination Centre and Port Community System. Deliberations also highlighted investment in multimodal logistics parks, SEZs, and cross-border skill-building programmes to prepare for a green maritime future.

Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur reiterated India’s commitment to building seamless connectivity and sustainable trade networks in the region. He noted that India’s leadership is focused on integrating digital platforms, attracting private investment, and preparing a future-ready maritime workforce.

Addressing the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project, Sonowal highlighted its role in transforming India’s Northeast into a regional gateway. The project, which connects the Northeast to the Bay of Bengal via Myanmar, will drastically reduce trade costs and boost integration with BIMSTEC economies.

The inaugural session was attended by Minister of State Shantanu Thakur, Visakhapatnam MP M. Sribharat, BIMSTEC Secretary General Indra Mani Pandey, MoPSW Secretary T.K. Ramachandran, and Chairman of VPA & DCI Dr M. Angamuthu, along with 28 delegates from all BIMSTEC member nations.