Second BIMSTEC Ports Conclave Concludes
The two-day event focused on regional maritime cooperation and cruise tourism potential
Visakhapatnam: The two-day second BIMSTEC Ports conclave concluded on Tuesday in Visakhapatnam. The second day of the event featured a series of high-level panel discussions focused on enhancing regional maritime cooperation, improving port efficiency, promoting cruise tourism and developing human resources across the Bay of Bengal region.
Subject matter experts moderated various sessions, providing in-depth insights on key issues, while eminent speakers shared valuable perspectives and potential solutions.
The second day on Tuesday began with a panel discussion aimed at enhancing intra-regional trade, which currently stands at just 7 per cent. The session emphasised the need to streamline customs procedures, eliminate regulatory bottlenecks and address gaps in logistics infrastructure to facilitate seamless cargo movement and regional port efficiency.
The following session highlighted the vast potential for cruise tourism in the BIMSTEC region, enriched by vibrant coastal ecosystems, rich cultural heritage, and diverse marine biodiversity. Discussions revolved around collaborative strategies for promoting cruise circuits, ecotourism and heritage-based coastal tourism.
A subsequent session focused on strategising future roadmaps for BIMSTEC port collaboration, synthesizing insights from earlier sessions and outlining long-term frameworks for sustainable and efficient port development aligned with global standards and innovation goals.
The final technical session of the day emphasized the importance of upskilling the maritime workforce, stressing public-private partnerships in maritime education, shipyard development, and port management to foster a competitive and future-ready talent pool.
Union minister for ports and shipping Sarbananda Sonowal visited Hindustan Shipyard in the morning and later reviewed issues regarding the Dredging Corporation.