The two-day Waterways Conclave-2022 got underway at the Chowkidinghee playground in Dibrugarh on Monday. Attending the first day of the conclave Union minister of ports, shipping and waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said that the conclave will immensely benefit the north eastern states and help in harnessing the domestic and international potential of waterways ecosystem in the northeastern region. As many as 6 MoUs for anchoring collaborative projects in the waterways sectors will be signed during the conclave that seeks to deliberate on collaborative opportunities in the waterways sector between India and its neighbouring nations.
The union minister further mentioned that Inland water transportation sector will play an important role in improving the domestic connectivity and regional integration of the country. He said that India has already signed bilateral agreements with Bangladesh to strengthen inland water transportation and maritime relations.
On the opening day, a technical session on regional connectivity through waterways was also held which was moderated by Arnab Bandyopadhyay, program leader – Infrastructure World Bank, Sanjeev Ranjan, secretary, ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, Sanjay Bandopadhyaya, chairman, Inland Waterways Authority of India, Vikram K Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh, Commodore Golam Sadeq, chairman, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, Amitabh Kumar, director general of shipping, ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, Amlan Basu, managing director, AVS Riverline and Capt Prabhakar Prakash, director, Oceanwhale Shipping Services Pvt Ltd.
Several countries including Netherlands, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Bangladesh are participating in the two-day conclave. Forty national and international companies are also participating in the event including a delegation of 8 leading Dutch companies from Netherlands.
