Various breakthrough decisions have been taken up, several initiatives which will ensure integrated development of ports and port related industry :
Integrated planning and development of Port cities :
State Government has decided to develop Mundra and Pipavav as model cities to showcase port-led development. A detailed conceptual plan for development of Mundra Port City (MPC) has been carried out . The key objective of the project is to cater to the critical infrastructure to the proposed development around the port area.
The Mundra Port City development has been framed with a view to facilitate the port based industries, not being limited to the industrial development, but also focusing on facilitation to people working in the port and port based industries, by creating the residential, commercial and recreational zones improving living standard of the region.
Maritime Education:
Developing the human capital of India’s large population is critical to the country’s maritime ambitions, The State Govt through GMB in partnership with Gujarat University in Ahmedabad and Ganpat University in Mehsana has introduced maritime related courses. In addition, Government of Gujarat intends to start a Polytechnique at Rajula, near Pipavav for running courses related to ports and maritime sector.
The Govt also intends to set up a state-of-the-art Maritime University in Gujarat. The idea of setting up of Maritime University would be to serve the maritime community as the institution for high-level maritime education & research in Gujarat.
Maritime University:
Gujarat is in the process of setting up Gujarat maritime University(GMU) to cater to the growing educational and training requirements of the ports, shipping and overall maritime sector. Gujarat Ports Infrastructure & Development Company Limited (GPIDCL) has been assigned the work of conducting the study for establishment of the Maritime University; the proposals from the interested and qualified agencies have been invited. In August 2014, Government of Gujarat gave “in-principal” approval to Gujarat maritime University project and consequently, two MoUs were signed with Global MET Support Centre of Korea Maritime & Ocean University-Korea and Plymouth University-UK for future collaboration for establishment of GMU. The proposed university would house professional and specialised course in maritime finance, law, management and environment both at professional and research level.
Port Infrastructure:
Port-based SEZs and a wider region under SIRs another thrust area are being planned in the vicinity of ports. India’s first port-based SEZ has been established at Mundra. Port-based SEZ is also under implementation at Dahej. Ministry of Shipping announced Maritime Agenda 2020, the perspective plan on maritime industry, with a planned port capacity of 3130 MMTPA (Gujarat’s share: 864 MMPTA). This is being done in order to support industrial development for which port capacity is being created.
The State Govt, under its Port Privatization Model has already developed Greenfield ports at Mundra, Pipavav, Dahej and Hazira. Further, new Greenfield port sites are being developed at Chhara with a capacity of 8 MMTPA, Dahej with capacity of 25 MMTPA.
The Petroleum, Chemicals & Petrochemicals Invest Region (PCPIR), is specifically delineated investment region. PCPIR has planned for establishment of manufacturing facilities for domestic & export led production associated with world class services & infrastructure.
Maritime Cluster:
At present, Gujarat has become the maritime gateway of India and currently accounting for more than 40% of the nation’s maritime traffic. However, No dedicated region is existing in Gujarat with a strong presence of maritime services providers. Most of these businesses are located in Mumbai, Dubai or Colombo. We are not only losing that business but we are also dependent on others for further growth. With the largest coastline among the maritime states, the state indeed provides an ideal choice for setting up a maritime cluster; creating a geographical region in Gujarat with a distinct identity of providing end-to-end maritime solutions.
The project – Maritime Cluster is very vital from the view point of competitiveness of Gujarat Ports. To encourage the same, Government of Gujarat has given “in-principal” approval for this project. Consequently, GMB organised an international seminar on 12 December, 2014 in Ahmedabad, where experts from Norway, Netherlands, Japan, Singapore and Dubai deliberated towards devising a strategy for further course of action on the project. During the same event, GPIDCL has also entered into Memorandum of Understanding with Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers (UAE Branch) and Maritime Forum Norway to explore possible areas of collaboration as far as establishment of Maritime Cluster is concerned.