Page 3 - Sarbananda Sonowal

Govt introduces Coastal Shipping Bill in Lok Sabha amid noisy protests

A Bill that seeks to promote coastal trade and encourage the participation of Indian-flagged vessels owned and operated by Indian citizens for national security and commercial needs was introduced in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal introduced the Bill amid noisy protests by opposition members over the recent violence in Uttar Pradesh's Sambhal and the Adani issue. Sandhya Ray, who was chairing the proceedings, asked Congress members Manish Tewari and Gaurav Gogoi to speak but they refused, saying that the House was not in order. Opposition members are allowed to speak on Bills if they wish to oppose it at the introduction stage itself. The Coastal Shipping Bill, 2024, was later introduced following a voice vote amid the din. The Bill is among the five new measures planned for introduction by the government in the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

Sonowal issues 'HaritSagar' guidelines to reduce pollution at ports

The guidelines also stated that all truck operators who use green fuel i.e. CNG/LNG/Hydrogen and its derivative or electric fleet may be identified and incentivized

India to be among top 10 global ship manufacturers by 2030: Sonowal

Addressing 'Sagarmanthan - The Great Oceans Dialogue', Sonowal further said the global South will determine the shape of ocean trade in the 21st Century

Union minister Sonowal launches Cruise Bharat Mission from Mumbai port

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Monday launched 'Cruise Bharat Mission' from the Mumbai port, aimed at boosting the potential of cruise tourism in the country and doubling of cruise passenger traffic by 2029, according to an official release. The mission, which also aims to excel India's vision to become a global hub for cruise tourism and promote the country as the leading global cruise destination, targets three key cruise segments -- the ocean and harbour, river, inland and island. It will be implemented in three phases, beginning October 1, the release said, adding that it will continue till March 31, 2029. Launching the mission on board cruise ship "Empress," Sonowal, who is the Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said, "the 'Cruise Bharat Mission' is a watershed moment in the revamp of the cruise sector of India." Stating that the government is committed to harnessing the tremendous potential of the Blue Economy of India, Sonowal said that cruise, with its ...

Ship-building clusters to come up in 5 states, says Sarbananda Sonowal

Ship-building and ship repair clusters will be established in five states including Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal said on Wednesday. Recognizing the strategic importance of shipbuilding and ship repair, the ministry is developing dedicated clusters in Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Gujarat, Sonowal said while highlighting the major accomplishments of his ministry in the first 100 days of the third term of the NDA government. In the next five years, the ministry projects container handling to reach an impressive 40 million TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit), creating 2 million job opportunities across the country. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) alone will scale up its handling capacity from the current 6.6 million TEUs to 10 million, he added. The minister also said that 3,900 acres of land has been allotted in Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) and V. O. Chidambaranar Port ..

India must rethink ships, infra for stronger maritime governance: Sanyal

As India looks to take a more significant role in maritime governance, it needs to rethink its approach to ships and shipping infrastructure and transform the way it invests, builds and utilises the maritime resources and capabilities, said Sanjeev Sanyal, member of Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council. Sanyal was speaking at the curtain raiser of 'Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue' organised by the Observer Research Foundation, in collaboration with Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), according to a press statement issued by the organisers. "This event served as a precursor to the main Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue, scheduled for November 18-19, 2024. The upcoming dialogue will provide a critical platform for discussions on the blue economy, maritime logistics, ports, shipping, waterways, critical minerals, diversified supply chains, the global maritime economy, and training and labour standards," it said. With its growing prominence in ...

Vadhvan Port in Maha to generate 1.2 mn jobs for youth, women: Sonowal

The proposed Vadhvan Port in the Palghar district of Maharashtra will generate 12 lakh jobs for the local youth and women besides creating multiple facilities for the people of the area once it becomes operational, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Friday. Speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the port project at CIDCO ground in Palghar, Sonowal also said that India has earned a name as a maritime nation in the world under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has taken a slew of initiatives for the maritime sector in the last 10 years. Modi laid the foundation stone for the mega project in the presence of Maharashtra Governor C P Radhakrishnan, state chief minister Eknath Shinde and deputy chief ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar. The prime minister during his visit to the state also inaugurated, laid foundation stoned for 218 fisheries projects worth Rs 1,560-crore in Palghar besides addressing the 2024 edition of three-day Global Fintech .

Vadhvan port to rank among top 10 global container ports, says Sonowal

16 green parks to be incorporated across the 12 major Indian ports as part of the green parks transition initiative

Sarbananda Sonowal introduces two shipping-related bills in Lok Sabha

Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday introduced two bills -- Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, and the Bills of Lading Bill, 2024, in the Lok Sabha. The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, seeks to comply with the international convention and with the changing global scenario in the shipping industry. Saugata Roy (TMC) opposed the introduction of the bill saying that the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, has been serving its purpose for the past 100 years and The Carriage of Goods by Sea Bill, 2024, only has some minor amendments. "This superfluous legislation should be done away with, it does not help the country," Roy said. Responding to Roy, Sonowal said the Indian Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, 1925, is already 100 year-old and hence to comply with the international convention and changing global scenario it was necessary to bring in simplification for ease of understanding of the law. "I believe this bill is necessary and is imperative to bring certain ..

Govt will come out with new shipbuilding policy soon: Shipping Minister

The industry had shown several concerns about the policy, which are now being deliberated on by the ministry before it unveils the final policy

From student leader to 3 term minister, Sonowal sworn in as Union minister

Assam MP Sarbananda Sonowal, a fire-brand student leader who battled odds to become chief minister, was on Sunday inducted into the Narendra Modi-led cabinet for the third time. Sonowal was the Minister of State for Sports & Youth Welfare for two years from 2014, as the northeast's sole representative in the Union Council of Ministers, before he scripted BJP's historic win in Assam to become the CM, only to relinquish the post and become a cabinet minister in the Modi 2.0 government in 2021. From the rough and tumble of student politics to becoming a minister thrice, Sonowal's political journey has been punctuated by twists and turns along the way. As a dynamic student leader who went on to join the state's most prominent regional party, the Asom Gana Parishad, and later switched over to the BJP, Sonowal was Modi's obvious choice as the chief minister of Assam when the saffron party won for the first time in the northeast in 2016. However, during the 2021 assembly elections, the ..

Chabahar: From more port pacts to managing risk, India's next move revealed

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal says the India-Iran long-term agreement for operating the Chabahar port could become a template for future port pacts

After long wait, India inks Chabahar port's 10-year deal with Iran

India's plans with the port go beyond commercial interests, according to the Centre

India to sign 10-year agreement with Iran to manage Chabahar Port

Chabahar Port will serve as a vital link connecting India to Afghanistan, Central Asia, and the broader Eurasian region

Lok Sabha elections: Different party, but same Dibrugarh seat for Sonowal

When the BJP won the Assembly elections again in 2021, Himanta Biswa Sarma succeeded Sonowal, who was sent to the Rajya Sabha and inducted in the Union Cabinet

CAA won't impact indigenous people, NDA will win at least 12 seats: Sonowal

Asserting that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will not impact the indigenous people of Assam, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday said the ruling NDA will win at least 12 of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state in the upcoming elections. In an interview to PTI, the Union Ports, Shipping, Waterways and Ayush Minister claimed that all sections of society, irrespective of caste, creed and religion, are happy with the NDA government as it has protected their interests over the last 10 years. "CAA is a national law. Whatever the situation the opposition is creating with baseless provocative statements, this is not going to affect the concern of common and very knowledgeable citizens of Assam," he said. The common people know that the law is not going to affect their interest and after the publication of the rules, they have come to the reality of the pros and cons of the act, said Sonowal, who is the BJP candidate in the Dibrugarh seat. "We are saying that don't try to make a

Tamil Nadu's VOC Port will be India's first green hydrogen hub: Sonowal

The VOC Port at Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu will become India's first green hydrogen hub as it will develop an ecosystem of green ports and also emerge as a transshipment hub when Prime Minister Narendra Modi launches numerous initiatives on February 28, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Tuesday. Also, Chennai would become the gateway to the Eastern Maritime Corridor to Vladivostok, Russia, and further increase the bilateral trade between the two countries, he said. "Tomorrow PM Modi will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate, and dedicate to the nation 36 transformative projects worth over Rs 17,000 crore. This is a step towards Viksit Bharat @2047," Sonowal told reporters here. About 30 projects under his Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways worth Rs 10,324 crore would be inaugurated, foundation laid or dedicated by the prime minister, he said. Of these, six projects worth Rs 7,587 crore are only in the two ports in Tamil Nadu. "Only a few years ago, our prime minister ha

Traditional system of medicines gaining worldwide acceptance: Sonowal

Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said traditional medicines like Ayush have gained a new lease of life, and are being recognised worldwide for their efficacy. He also said that the traditional medicine sector of India has grown beyond geographical boundaries and reached a global market, under the BJP-led central government. The Union Minister of Ayush was speaking after inaugurating a centre of excellence at the State Ayurvedic College and Hospital here. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has taken leadership position in the revamp of traditional medicines worldwide... This has helped our traditional medicine sector to grow out of its regular geography and communities to reach a wider population across communities from different parts of the world," Sonowal said. He said prior to 2014, the market value of Ayush products in India was limited to Rs 24,000 crore. But now, the country's Ayush products have gained a market of Rs 4.50 lakh crore ..

India, Iran discuss development of cooperation between two countries

Both South Asia and the Persian Gulf have strong commercial, energy, cultural and people-to-people links, the MEA said

Bilateral trade between India, Russia likely to increase this year: Sonowal

Bilateral trade between India and Russia was at USD 50 billion in the last financial year and is expected to increase this year, said Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, here on Wednesday. The Eastern Maritime Corridor between the ports on the east coast of India and the Far East region of Russia promises "immense potential" to unlock new trade opportunities, he said. The minister was speaking at a conference on 'Operationalising Eastern Maritime Corridor' which was attended by a delegation from Moscow led by A Yu Bobrakov, Deputy Minister for the Development of the Far East and the Arctic of the Russian Federation, among others. While welcoming the visiting delegates, Sonowal said the India-Russia partnership is strong and steady building upon strategic convergence, geo-political interests and mutually beneficial cooperation. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi remains engaged with President Putin through telephonic conversation. The latest discussion t