BIMSTEC Ports Conclave Commences in Vizag

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the second Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam on Monday.

- USHA PERI @ Visakhapatnam

Delegates from all seven BIMSTEC member countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and India—participated in the event.

In his address, Sonowal laid out key components of the Union government's long-term maritime vision, in line with the Prime Minister's Vision 2030 and 2047. He underscored the importance of regional cooperation through BIMSTEC, emphasizing creating a maritime dashboard for project tracking, adopting public-private partnership models, boosting cruise tourism, and developing coastal economic zones.

Later, the Union Minister laid the stone for several infrastructure works and inaugurated completed projects at the Visakhapatnam International Cruise Terminal.