Page 5 - Sarbananda Sonowal

Centre to set up Bureau of Port Security soon: Sarbananda Sonowal

The minister highlighted the Centre's focus on sustainable development and shared about the Ministry's ambitious plan to develop Hydrogen Hubs across the Central Government and State Government ports

India stands at cusp of a maritime revolution, says Sarbananda Sonowal

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has stressed unlocking the vast potential of India's maritime sector, saying the country's strategic location and commitment to sustainable practices present unparalleled opportunities. Hosting foreign heads of missions and officials here on Friday evening, Sonowal underlined that India stands at the cusp of a maritime revolution. The event was organised ahead of the Global Maritime India Summit 2023, scheduled to be held in Delhi on October 17-19. Sonowal stressed unlocking investment opportunities in India's maritime sector. "India stands at the cusp of a maritime revolution. Our strategic location, technological advancements and commitment to sustainable practices present unparalleled opportunities. Countries partnering with India in this sector will contribute to global growth and be part of a responsible and progressive maritime future," he said. The minister also shared his vision for environment-friendly ...

Govt employees must work with complete dedication: Union Minister Sonowal

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday appealed to newly-appointed government employees to work with complete dedication and commitment for the development of the country. He also urged them to ensure a healthy body and mind for better focus and efficient performance in their jobs. The Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways was speaking at a Rozgar Mela here, organised as part of a nationwide programme in 44 venues which was addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the virtual mode. As many as 211 candidates received appointment letters to different departments and organisations of the Government of India at the function here, an official release said. The candidates were from 12 eastern states Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Sikkim, Tripura and West Bengal. Interacting with the newly appointed candidates, Sonowal called upon them to commit themselves to the service of the nation and become 'Karmayogi

India working to bring world together through Ayush sector: Sonowal

India is working to bring the world together through the promotion of the Ayush sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Friday. Sonowal was addressing a function after inaugurating an Ayush facility at Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) near here. In the last nine years, Ayush has gained accessibility and credibility in the world and people are increasingly accepting it as a method to make their lives better, the minister said. Speaking about the Ayush centre at the GMCH, Sonowal said the centre is dedicated to the people of Goa and will be the first such facility in the country. He appealed to the state government to disseminate information, education and communication about Ayush (Ayurveda, yoga, naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and homeopathy) in the state. The state government should set up camps in villages and increase public participation, the minister said. Sonowal claimed that Ayush never got the attention it

Mission Hydrogen: Gujarat, Tamil Nadu ports to develop green fuel hubs

The Centre also aims to have two Indian ships that will be powered by green hydrogen or its derivative fuels by 2027

Sarbananda Sonowal seeks faster Sagarmala execution from Maharashtra govt

The two ministers also discussed the ambitious Vadhavan Port. Low draft depth of Indian ports has been an issue plaguing the maritime economy for long

Sonowal holds meet to explore EXIM trade potential of Assam's Dhubri port

The government remains committed to ironing out the issues faced by stakeholders to ensure that inland waterways remain a transformational force to bring positive economic development in the North East region, Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Monday. Sonowal participated in a stakeholder meeting to unlock the EXIM trade potential of Dhubri Port in Assam, an official release said on Monday. Highlighting the role of Dhubri and the region in the overall growth of the region, the ports, shipping and waterways said Dhubri, with its rich history as a thriving river port, is poised to unlock huge value by acting as a lynchpin of growth for the region. "Given the immense potential of Dhubri port, we are also considering building a modern integrated office complex where offices of Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Home Affair will be present. A new warehouse as well as a new road are also being considered to be built at Dhubri port which .

Sonowal launches 'Sagar Samriddhi' system to track dredging activity

Currently, Cochin and Mumbai ports have adopted "Sagar Samriddhi" and New Mangalore Port and Deendayal Port are running the system on a trial basis

Govt remains deeply committed to Act East Policy: Sarbananda Sonowal

Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday said the government remains deeply committed to the Act East Policy and is working towards enabling its maximum potential for growth and development in the eastern region of the country. Sonowal emphasized the need for greater cooperation among the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multilateralism (BBINM) countries to unlock the full potential of the maritime sector in the region. The Objective of "Act East Policy", is to promote economic cooperation, cultural ties and develop strategic relationships with countries in the Asia-Pacific region through continuous engagement at bilateral, regional and multilateral levels. The Minister was speaking at a stakeholder meeting of Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMP) attended by representatives of trade and commerce, as well as diplomatic envoys from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Nepal. The meeting was also attended by senior corporate officials including SAIL, Tata Steel, Indian Oil, Haldia ..

Symbol of self-respect for 1.42 bn Indians: Sonowal on new Parliament

Union Minister of Ayush and Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday said that with the inauguration of the new Parliament building

Sonowal to receive first cargo vessel to Sittwe port in Myanmar on Tue

Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will be receiving the first cargo ship to Sittwe Port in Myanmar from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata on May 9, an official statement said on Friday. The ceremony is likely to inaugurate regular transit of cargo ships between Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port in Kolkata to SittwePort in Rakhine state of Myanmar, heralding a new age of transportation between two countries, the statement said. Union Minister Shantanu Thakur on Thursday flagged off the inaugural cargo shipment to operationalise Sittwe Port in Rakhine, Myanmar, from Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port. According to an official statement, cargo ship MV-ITT LION (V-273) carrying 20,000 bags containing 1,000 metric tonnes of cement will reach Sittwe Port on May 9, 2023. The port has been built under grant assistance from India as part of the Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP), it added. The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), as a project ...

All major ports to have green hydrogen by 2035: Sarbananda Sonowal

Sonowal was addressing a session on PM Gati Shakti during 'India Calling Conference 2023' organized by the Indian Merchants Chamber in Mumbai on Saturday

Gati Shakti helps India register Rs 2 trn in goods export in FY23: Sonowal

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Saturday said that the PM Gati Shakti programme has helped the country to register a year-on-year incremental growth of Rs 2 lakh crore in goods export in the previous fiscal. Delivering his speech at an event hosted by Indian Merchants Chamber here, Sonowal, who is the Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, also said the central government has been working hard towards improving and modernising India's ports and connected infrastructure. As a result of transformational initiatives, in 2022-23 financial year India's Goods exports touched USD 447 billion, up from USD 422-billion a year earlier, which translates into a huge increase of more than Rs 2 lakh crore in a year, Sonowal was quoted as saying in a statement. According to the minister, India has become a USD 3.5 trillion economy in less than nine years. This blistering speed of the growth is historic and the result of Gati Shakti, he stated. The multi-modal connectivity provides ...

PM's Mann ki Baat led to increase in awareness about Ayush: Sonowal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Mann ki Baat' conversations have been instrumental in giving Ayush a positive thrust, leading to an increase in awareness about the benefits of traditional Indian systems of medicine, Ayush Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Friday. The Ministry of Ayush has launched a special edition of the official research publication of the Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), the Journal of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (JRAS), focused on the "Impact of Mann ki Baat on Ayush Sector". Ayush has been mentioned in around 37 episodes of "Mann Ki Baat", the minister said, adding that the prime minister had urged citizens to adopt a healthy lifestyle, practise yoga and adopt evidence-based Ayurveda, and imbibe the Ayurveda way of life. As a result of the prime minister's efforts to promote the Ayush sector, there has been an increase in awareness about the benefits of traditional Indian systems of medicine not just in India but globally as well

India in talks to open up Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor: Sonowal

India is in discussion with Russia to inaugurate the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor aimed at boosting maritime ties between the two countries, Union Minister Sarabananda Sonowal said on Sunday. The minister of ports, shipping and waterways, who was here to review the performance of Chennai Port and Kamarajar Port, inaugurated a slew of projects worth Rs 148 crore. India was in talks with Russia to open the Chennai-Vladivostok Maritime Corridor, he said at the event. The discussion between the two countries was aimed at bolstering maritime trade, he said. "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India affirms its commitment to rejuvenate its trade and investment potential to propel the growth of India," he said. "This corridor will serve this purpose, acting as a conduit of growth and investment cooperation between two historic cities with rich marine history -- Chennai and Vladivostok -- of the two countries," he said. Sonowal later inaugurated three new proje

Chennai Port to be cruise tourism hub on the East Coast: Minister Sonowal

The Centre has planned to make Chennai the hub for cruise tourism on the East Coast, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said here on Sunday. For the first time in the history of Chennai Port, a continuous cruise service was operated from June to September 2022, he said. Sonowal was here to review the performance of the Chennai Port Trust and its subsidiary Kamarajar Port Ltd along with senior officials including the chairperson of the Ports, Sunil Paliwal. "We are going to make Chennai Port a hub of cruise tourism in the East Coast." Sonowal told reporters. Chennai Port and Cordelia Cruises signed a memorandum of understanding in May 2022 to boost cruise tourism, he recalled. Sonowal said 87,000 passengers from 37 cruise tourism operators visited Chennai Port in the past few years. Later, responding to a query, Paliwal said container ferry services between Chennai and Puducherry had commenced in a small way with containers being the main cargo. On

Shipping ministry issues draft Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) on Monday issued draft 'Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy' with an aim to nurture startups and other entities to co-create the future of India's growing maritime sector. According to an official statement, the draft 'Sagarmala Innovation and Start-up Policy' pitches for digital portal-based selection of startups to ensure a transparent process. It also emphasised on developing centralised repository containing all pertinent information to assist emerging entrepreneurs. The draft policy called for creation of launch pads at ports for carrying out trials, facilitating pilot projects, establishing working space and adopting products and solutions, the statement said. It also noted that there is a need to provide legal and accountancy back up to startups for IP-patent filing, company registration, annual filings and closures. There is also a need to collaborate with national and international stakeholders for mentorship, ...

No second thoughts on Great Nicobar Port, says Sarbananda Sonowal

"An area of land has already been earmarked for their protected habitation. There are also steps being taken to take care of the coral zone and mangroves"

Sarbananda Sonowal welcomes AFSPA withdrawal from more parts of Northeast

Union minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Sunday welcomed the lifting of AFSPA from more parts of the Northeast, maintaining it will ensure further growth of the region. He also maintained that militants are leaving the path of violence and joining nation-building efforts in the northeastern states. "Further relaxation of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 or AFSPA from many areas of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur is another welcome step by the Modi govt," Sonowal said in a statement here. He said sustained and conscious efforts by Prime Minister Narendra Modi have resulted in permanent peace in the region. "On behalf of all the people of the region, I extend my heartfelt gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah," the former Assam chief minister said. Sonowal maintained that "dark days of violence, disturbance and insurgency during the Congress government" are now things of past. "The insurgents have chosen to reject the road of violence as they jo

India aims to become a global hub for green shipbuilding by 2030: Sonowal

India aims to become a global hub for green shipbuilding by 2030, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal on Wednesday said. Inaugurating India's first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS), Sonowal further said a target has been set for the initial Green Tugs to start working in all major ports by 2025. At least 50 per cent of all the Tugs are likely to be converted into Green Tugs by 2030, which will considerably reduce emissions, as the country moves towards achieving sustainable development, an official statement quoted the minister as saying. Tugs are special boats that assist other vessels into and out of port. Green Hybrid Tugs will be powered by Green Hybrid Propulsion systems and subsequently adopting non-fossil fuel solutions like (Methanol, Ammonia, and Hydrogen). According to the statement, the country's first National Centre of Excellence in Green Port & Shipping (NCoEGPS) is the result of a collaboration ...