Dibrugarh: We could anchor robust business relations with our neighbour nations through the optimal and holistic development of the ecosystem of waterway, said Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH Sarbananda Sonowal on Tuesday, adding that waterways can provide the greatest opportunities for young entrepreneurs.
He was addressing the inaugural session of ‘Waterways Conclave 2022,’ a two-day event organised by Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) with the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and ICC as the industry partners and PwC as the knowledge partner.
The Minister said: “Within a radius of 2000 kilometres, we have all big cities with a combined population of 800 million. Waterways could provide the greatest opportunities for our young entrepreneurs.” He invited the industry to proactively partner with the government in the waterways sector and contribute to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atma Nirbhar Bharat vision.
Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister, Assam, said that Assam is implementing Rs 770 crores Assam Inland Water Transport project to provide safe and convenient ferry services to passengers. Talking about the importance of the waterways ecosystem in the northeast, Sarma said that the Brahmaputra basin possesses nearly 30 per cent of India’s water resource potential and cargo movement through waterways would significantly reduce dependence on cargo transportation for roadways.
Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, in his virtual address, said that the logistics cost is 8 to 10 per cent of the cost of goods in China, 10-12 per cent in the European countries and around 12 per cent in the USA and 16 per cent in India.
The minister averred that waterways are the most cost-effective medium of transport compared to road and railways. “As far as the logistic cost is concerned, for logistics efficiency the waterways are the ultimate mission for all of us,” he added.
Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Communications, Electronics and Information Technology and Railways, said that we must try to achieve as high a share of the waterways sector as possible in the logistics mix, comprising rail, road, and waterways in the country. /BI/
