India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) is establishing the India Maritime Centre (IMC), a significant initiative under the Maritime India Vision 2030.
In this line, recently a meeting was chaired by the Shri TK Ramachandran, Secretary, MoPSW in the presence of the Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary of Sagarmala, along with representatives from key maritime associations such as SAI, FFFAI, INSA, IPPTA, CSLA, CFSAI, and IPA. During this meeting, they finalized the constitution, procedures, documentation, and necessary infrastructure for the IMC’s operationalization.
The Centre aims to provide a unified platform for the Indian maritime industry, acting as a think tank for policy formulation and industry recommendations. Its primary goals include strengthening the country’s participation in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and global maritime forums, creating a robust domestic maritime sector through a unified and synchronized approach, conducting flagship events to build a strong global brand for the Indian maritime cluster, providing expert analysis and recommendations for sustainable growth, establishing platforms for industry stakeholders to collaborate and network, and creating a pool of funds to support the industry, including startups.
“The establishment of the India Maritime Centre marks a significant milestone in MoPSWs efforts to bolster the maritime sector in India. The IMC will serve as a central platform for collaboration, innovation, and policy advocacy, ensuring sustainable growth and enhancing India’s position in the global maritime community. MoPSW is committed to make the IMC a world-class institution that drives the future of India’s maritime industry,” commented Shri TK Ramachandran.
The Task Force for the IMC was formed in January 2024 and divided into subgroups focused on Awareness and Outreach, Infrastructure and Operationalization, and Procedure and Documentation. To date, two meetings of the entire Task Force and three subgroup meetings have been conducted at the Ministry.
For Infrastructure and Operationalization, Mumbai, Maharashtra has been finalized as the location for the IMC. A building at the IMU Campus in need of renovation has been identified, and space has been requested from SCI at the MTI Campus, Powai, with in-principle approval provided by SCI. Discussions regarding furnishing requirements with SCI are ongoing, and the preparation of an organogram is in progress.
