The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : “Maritime industry needs investments”

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Tuesday, Jul 08, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

“Maritime industry needs investments”

Special Correspondent

— Photo: K. V. Srinivasan

FOCUS ON GROWTH: (From left) K. E. Raghunathan, chairman of the All-India Manufacturers’ Organisation (Tamil Nadu State Board); Governor Surjit Singh Barnala; Anna University Vice-Chancellor Mannar Jawahar; and Highways Secretary K. Allaudin at a seminar in Chennai on Monday.

CHENNAI: Speakers at the inaugural function of an international expo-cum-seminar on sea transport and port management, which began here on Monday, highlighted the need for huge investments in the maritime industry to maintain its competitiveness.

Though sea transport accounts for 95 per cent of India’s total foreign trade, problems in handling capacity, connectivity and efficiency need to be addressed, Tamil Nadu Highways Secretary K. Allaudin said.

Inaugurating Infratech 2008, organised by the All-India Manufacturers’ Organisation (AIMO) and Anna University-Chennai, Governor Surjit Singh Barnala said competition in the global market was rapidly increasing. He reckoned that to stay in the race, India should focus on developing sea transport through a multi-modal transport connectivity in the form of road and rail support for ports and better port management facilities.

With day rates and charter rates hitting an all-time high, the industry was booming, said P. Mannar Jawahar, Vice-Chancellor, Anna University-Chennai. But, “failure to keep the transportation and logistics system on the cutting-edge technology… will lead to a decline in the economy,” he warned.

A trans-disciplinary approach involving the participation of scientists, engineers, policymakers and financial experts was required to address these issues, K. E. Raghunathan, chairman, AIMO (Tamil Nadu State Board), said. There was a tremendous opportunity for growth, with nearly 40,000 engineers needed in the maritime industry.

As part of the move to train qualified professionals for sea transport, Dr. Jawahar said Anna University-Chennai was planning to introduce a two-year postgraduate course in port technology and management from 2009.

D. Vishwanathan, chairman of the advisory committee, Infratech 2008, said the event would help to finalise recommendations for developing sea transport. Synergy among different regions and partnerships with the private sector would help to boost the industry.

Delivering the keynote address, Mr. Allaudin said the government would give a major boost to the private sector. The current capacity of Indian ports was 745 million tonnes, and it would be enhanced by nearly 192 million tonnes through 25 private sector projects.

The government had simplified the procedure for approval for projects through the Model Concession Agreement. This allowed the companies to approach the Public-Private-Partnership Appraisal Committee to get approval expeditiously.

The seminars at Infratech 2008 will be conducted over six sessions, with 44 speakers scheduled to address the audience.

The exhibition will be open for three days, with nearly 40 stalls and 250 participants, including 34 from abroad.

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