BIMSTEC Ports Conclave 2024

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam on July 14. The two-day conclave, themed “Navigating the Future: Blue Economy, Innovation, and Sustainable Partnerships”, brought together ministerial delegations, port authorities, maritime experts, business leaders, and scholars from all seven BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries—Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.

The conclave aims to strengthen maritime connectivity, port cooperation, and sustainable development in the Bay of Bengal region, while operationalizing the recently signed BIMSTEC Agreement on Maritime Transport Cooperation (AMTC).

Speaking at the event, Sarbananda Sonowal envisioned the AMTC pact as a strategic blueprint to transform the Bay of Bengal into a thriving hub of global trade and tourism. Emphasizing India’s “Neighbourhood First” policy under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, he said BIMSTEC nations are key partners in India's regional development vision. He described the Ports Conclave as a springboard to unlock the vast potential of the Blue Economy—an economic model centered on sustainable use of ocean resources—and called for deep collaboration among member countries to boost port-led industrialization, digital integration, cruise tourism, skill development, and coastal economic zones.

The Minister highlighted the need for seamless port networks that function as engines of growth, and stressed the importance of joint feasibility studies, public-private partnerships (PPPs), and workforce upskilling to make the Bay of Bengal a globally competitive trade and tourism corridor.

India has been the first to ratify the AMTC agreement and is taking tangible steps to fast-track its implementation. In a key announcement, Sonowal stated that a BIMSTEC Sustainable Maritime Transport Centre will soon be established in Powai, Mumbai, under the Indian Ocean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Maritime Transport (IOCE-SMarT). This Centre will serve as a catalyst for executing the AMTC pact by harmonizing maritime policies, advancing digital and green transformation, and building skills and capacity in the region’s maritime workforce. He noted that this initiative would help reduce trade costs, improve connectivity, and position the Bay of Bengal as a vibrant and sustainable global trade hub.

The conclave’s sessions focused on practical strategies to implement the AMTC agreement and foster regional maritime collaboration. The first key session explored ways to boost private sector investment through PPPs and address infrastructure gaps. It proposed the creation of a regional PPP facilitation platform and called for harmonized laws and regulations to ease port operations across borders. The second session addressed the shifting landscape of global supply chains and the opportunities it presents for BIMSTEC nations to attract investment in sectors like shipbuilding, electronics, renewable energy, and logistics. Both sessions underlined the need for coordinated planning, digital transformation, and smart infrastructure to unlock the Bay of Bengal’s potential as a resilient trade and manufacturing hub.

Among the highlights was the emphasis on cruise tourism, with joint branding, sustainable coastal circuits, and public-private investment seen as key to promoting the region as a high-value tourism destination. Panel discussions also focused on developing port-linked industrial zones, improving hinterland connectivity, and promoting multimodal logistics parks and Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP)

Sarbananda Sonowal also spoke about the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport Project (KMTTP), describing it as a game-changer that connects India’s Northeast to the Bay of Bengal via Myanmar. The KMTTP dramatically reduces transit time and trade costs, unlocking economic opportunities for the entire northeastern region. As part of India’s Act East Policy, Kaladan is not only a bilateral initiative with Myanmar but a model for seamless regional integration across BIMSTEC. By linking ports, trade corridors, and value chains, the project is expected to catalyze inclusive growth and bring India’s Northeast closer to the global marketplace.

Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA), which hosted the conclave, was chosen for its role as India’s Eastern Gateway and its leadership in smart and green port development. VPA Secretary Venugopal noted that BIMSTEC plays a critical role in shaping a prosperous and secure Indo-Pacific region, aligning with India’s broader strategic visions like the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) doctrine, the Maritime India Vision 2030, and the Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

Reflecting on the first edition of the conclave held in November 2019 in Visakhapatnam, Venugopal listed major achievements such as the formation of a Cruise Tourism Task Force, launch of the Chennai–Sri Lanka cruise circuit, and operationalisation of Sittwe Port in Myanmar under the Kaladan project. The first conclave also led to a ₹45,000 crore boost to India’s Inland Waterways and the rollout of digital platforms like PCS 1x, SagarSetu, and Logistics Data Bank (LDB) to improve port connectivity and logistics efficiency.

The second edition is now focused on accelerating this momentum by unlocking new private sector investments, identifying heritage cruise lines and coastal tourism circuits, and fast-tracking the Kaladan corridor and associated logistics networks. Discussions also included strategies for integrating green hydrogen, decarbonisation technologies, shore-to-ship power supply, and the expansion of SEZs and smart logistics corridors, ensuring that growth is both inclusive and environmentally sustainable.

Through a shared commitment to innovation, collaboration, and regional integration, the 2nd BIMSTEC Ports Conclave sets the stage for transforming the Bay of Bengal into a resilient and dynamic maritime hub—where trade, tourism, and sustainable development go hand in hand. As regional stakeholders move forward with policy alignment, capacity building, and digital reforms, the conclave stands as a strong testament to BIMSTEC’s vision of shared prosperity and maritime leadership in the Indo-Pacific era.

Major Ports in India

Major Ports in India (As of 2025)

S.No.	Port Name	State/UT	Status
1	Deendayal Port (Kandla Port)	Gujarat	Major Port
2	Mumbai Port Trust	Maharashtra	Major Port
3	Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT)	Maharashtra	Major Port
4	Port of Mormugao	Goa	Major Port
5	New Mangalore Port	Karnataka	Major Port
6	Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (Kolkata Port)	West Bengal	Major Port
7	Kochi (Cochin) Port	Kerala	Major Port
8	Chennai Port	Tamil Nadu	Major Port
9	Kamarajar Port (Ennore Port)	Tamil Nadu	Major Port
10	Paradip Port	Odisha	Major Port
11	Visakhapatnam Port	Andhra Pradesh	Major Port
12	Tuticorin Port (V.O. Chidambaranar Port)	Tamil Nadu	Major Port
13	Vadhavan Port (Under Construction)	Maharashtra	Upcoming Major Port
–	Port Blair	Andaman & Nicobar Islands	Removed (since 2017)

Note:

• Port Blair lost its major port status in 2017 due to low container traffic.

• Vadhavan Port is an upcoming deep-draft port project on the western coast and is expected to become one of the largest ports in India.

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