Union Minister for Education and Skill Development & Entrepreneurship Shri Dharmendra Pradhan addressed a special session with seafarers at the Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS), 2023, organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. The summit, one of the world’s largest maritime summits, recorded a major investment of ₹2.37 lakh crore on the second day.
While addressing the event, Shri Pradhan commended the services rendered by the seafarers who support the maritime industry. They are the unsung heroes of the global economy, he commented. He highlighted that they support the global supply chain, are instrumental in facilitating trade, supporting tourism, safeguarding the nation’s water, and contributing to national development.
Shri Pradhan mentioned that India is a bright spot in the global economy and is supported by pillars like democracy, demography and diversity. India ranks fifth globally in the seafarers’ supply with nearly 2.5 lakh seafarers, consisting of 12% of its global community, he added. He also said the aim is to take it to 20%.
He emphasized that this is the first-ever techno-economic summit in which issues of human resource and capacity development are dealt with. He highlighted the decade-long effort of the Government in standardizing maritime training, increasing on-board training, improving examination and certification, and facilitating ease of doing business.
Shri Pradhan reminded how Odisha, since ancient times, remained an epicentre of glorious maritime traditions. While it is important to cherish the maritime heritage, it is also important to build on our maritime strength in laying the foundation of a new India, he emphasized.
Shri Pradhan thanked Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for his leadership in developing a skill-centric and industry-ready ecosystem.
He highlighted the importance of NEP 2020 in transforming the knowledge ecosystem by providing high-quality education and skills to all. The NEP 2020 will guide in skilling, re-skilling, and up-skilling seafarers, making them future and industry-ready.
Shri Pradhan also highlighted the government’s priority of equipping seafarers with future skills, standardization, equivalence of skills, and policy support to engage more Indian female seafarers.
The Summit served as a platform for collaboration and creating a better working environment, promoting the welfare, rights, and recognition of seafarers, the backbone of the shipping industry.
As many as 70 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) were signed in various maritime sectors, including port development, green hydrogen & ammonia, port-led development, business & commerce, shipbuilding, knowledge sharing, and port connectivity.
Prime Minister Modi also launched the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, a roadmap for maritime sector development for the next 25 years, to make India Atmanirbhar by 2047.
The Summit focused on key areas of the maritime sector, including ports of the future, decarbonisation, coastal shipping & IWT, shipbuilding, repair and recycling, finance, insurance & arbitration, maritime clusters, innovation & technology, maritime safety and security, and maritime tourism.
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Source: PIB
