Union Ministers Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and Shri Nitin Gadkari, and Assam CM Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma to address Waterways Conclave in Assam

In line with the aspirations of PM Gati Shakti National Masterplan the “Waterways Conclave 2022” has been organised on 11th-12th April in Dibrugarh, Assam Ministry. The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Govt of India, along with the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), is organising Waterways Conclave aiming for speedy development of multimodal projects in the North-eastern region to energise the economic activities and augment employment generation.

According to FICCI sources, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and AYUSH, Government of India; Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India; and the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma will attend the event and address during the Inaugural Session on the 12th April 2022. FICCI and ICC are the industry partners for the two-day conclave.

The Waterways Conclave 2022 will also be attended by various stakeholders in the waterways ecosystem, such as policymakers, senior government officials, domestic and international investors, sector experts, infrastructure players, vessel owners and operators, cruise tourism industry, cargo industry, representatives of major ports and the Governments of Maritime States in India. In addition, expert speakers shall address the conclave on both days.

“The waterways sector can potentially bring about an upsurge in our bilateral trade and investment through collaboration. The Waterways Conclave will deliberate on the new possibilities for cooperation in the waterways sector between the nations,” said a FICCI release.

The conclave is planned with special sessions to deliberate on issues concerning the sector.

The sessions on 11th April shall have Plenary Session 1: Regional Connectivity through Waterways, where Shri Sanjeev Ranjan, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India and Shri Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India will address the gathering. Breakout Technical Session 1: Inland Vessels: Focus on Financing and Manufacturing followed by Plenary Session 2: Infrastructure development for an enhanced role of waterways and Breakout Technical Session 2: Inland Vessel Act and Rules.

The sessions on 12th April shall have the Inaugural session followed by Plenary Session 3: Regional Trade & Commerce: Key Issues and Interventions Session Chair: Mr Jayant Singh, Vice Chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India and Breakout Technical Session 3: Unlocking the potential of regional trade through waterways followed by Plenary Session 4: River Cruise Tourism and Passenger transport and followed by Breakout Technical Session 4: Harnessing the Potential of India-Nepal trade through waterways.