The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, has said that his Ministry is committed to strengthening seafarers’ security, safety, welfare, and development. Addressing senior officers and young cadets at the Maritime Training Institute (MTI), Powai, yesterday the minister highlighted the government’s steps and initiatives in this direction.

Mr. Sonowal said that his government envisions to take India into the Top 10 Maritime Nations. He mentioned that India has been excelling in all spheres of maritime trade, such as shipbuilding, ship repair, ship recycling, EXIM trade, coastal shipping, and inland waterways. He stated that now the world is getting attracted to our country’s virtuosity in maritime, and the improved ranking of India in the World Bank’s Logistics Performance Index (LPI) is evidence of it.

During the visit, the Union Minister interacted with the key officials of Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI), Shipping Corporation of India Land and Assets Limited (SCILAL), the Directorate General of Shipping, and other stakeholders from the industry. The Union Minister toured the state-of-the-art facilities of MTI, Powai, and planted a sapling in the ‘Ayush Vatika’ of the Institute, in resonance with the spirit of the “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” campaign.

Mr. Sonowal further interacted with the young cadets of MTI, Powai, and celebrated the first National Space Day, highlighting India’s proud achievement of becoming the fourth country to land on the moon and the first to reach its southern polar region on August 23, last year.