Where the world of shipping meets India
India - The seventh India Shipping Summit brought together, from 10 till 12 October 2011, international maritime leaders and the top Indian shipping executives in a highly successful two day event in Mumbai, India.
During the event, key stakeholders from around the world discussed and debated all of the main issues that face India's maritime future and the investment decisions that need to be made.
Among the 400 participants who attended and spoke at the Summit in Mumbai, were Shri K. Mohandas, Secretary of the Ministry of Shipping, Government of India, S Hajara, Chairman and Managing Director, Shipping Corporation of India, Y Khatau, President, BIMCO & Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Varun Shipping and Spyros Polemis, Chairman, International Chamber of Shipping and Managing Director, Seacrest Shipping Co Ltd.
"The India Maritime Agenda 2010-2020 document that we have prepared gives in detail our plans for the maritime sector during the current decade," Mr Mohandas said. "In the field of ports, for example, we are looking to develop cargo-handling capacity from the present 1.1 billion tonnes to 3.2 billion tonnes by the end of the decade. We also expect to finalise by year-end the coastal shipping policy that defines cabotage restrictions for foreign carriers."
In a powerful and reassuring speech, S. Hajara, Chairman and Managing Director, The Shipping Corporation of India Limited, reinforced India’s current maritime position and its vision for the next decade. He told delegates that India is better placed than many other nations to ride out any storm caused by deepening global financial crisis and that according to the IMF, India will remain an attractive place for foreigners to invest for long term.
The unique mix of panel discussions, debate and social networking provided a great platform for the industry to focus on the real issues faced over the next decade by India's maritime community.
