Kolkata, with its rich maritime heritage and strategic location, plays a pivotal role in maritime sector in enabling & empowering the eastern part of India. Maritime sector is the life line of Indian economy contributing more than 90% of EXIM cargo by volume and about 70% by value,” Sonowal said.
West Bengal is poised to receive investment worth ₹1 trillion in maritime sector and that will make the state a maritime hub in the near future, said The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, on the side lines of the road show organised by Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMPK) for the ensuing Global Maritime India Summit, 2023 (GMIS). “Private sector is an essential partner in propelling the growth of India’s maritime sector and Public Private Partnership (PPP) has immensely contributed in development of new ports and augmentation of capacity in the existing ports. PPP terminals, which are currently handling about 50% cargo at major ports, are striving to raise its share to 100% in coming decades.”
