The Shipping and Logistics Committee of The Bengal Chamber of Commerce & Industry (BCC&I) organized the 10th edition of The Annual Shipping and Logistics Conclave 2020 -21 for three consecutive days starting from 4th February to 6th February 2021.  The Conclave had the presence of senior representatives from the Government, Policymakers, Industry leaders, Researchers, Academicians, etc. The theme of this year’s conclave was “Kolkata – The Hub of Logistics for Bay of Bengal and Gateway to the North East and Neighbouring Countries”. 

The objective of our three day conclave was to deal with the Shipping and Logistics sector in the country, particularly in Eastern India and also cross border logistics between Eastern India and the Neighbouring countries by showcasing the underlying opportunities prevailing in the maritime and logistics industry and challenges being faced by the stakeholders. The outcome of the conclave would help in drafting a detailed Plan of Action which would help in brining further developments and growth of the maritime and logistics sector.

The Annual Conclave was inaugurated by our Chief Guest, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya, Hon’ble Minister of State (IC), Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and Chemicals & Fertilizers, Government of India on Day 1 (4th February 2021). 

The Hon’ble Minister mentioned about the present scenario of the Maritime trade in the country with a prime focus on Eastern India. He highlighted on EXIM trade and also on the Inland Water Transportation (IWT) network as well as Coastal Shipping. To the extent, Eastern India is concerned, the Hon’ble Minister focussed on the Inland Water Transit Trade (IWTT) Protocol route, primarily between India and Bangladesh. The Minister said that this protocol route connecting the various ports of Call in Bangladesh like Chittagong, Mongla, etc would help in smooth flow of Cargo transportation between Eastern India and the North East via Bangladesh, resulting in reduction of logistics cost and the lead time. 

On Day 2 (5th February 2021), our Conclave was addressed by our Chief Guest, Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Hon’ble Minister, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and MSME, Government of India. 

The Hon’ble Minister mentioned about the present scenario of the Infrastructure sector in the country, particularly the Road Transportation and Highways. Apart from Road Transportation and Highways, the Minister also focussed on the Ports and Shipping sector highlighting mainly the Inland Water Transportation network and Coastal Shipping. He said that like how cargo transporation is happening now through roadways, we should also utilize our Inland Waterways and the Coastal routes for transporting cargo and there should be a balance in transportation of freight via the waterways and the roadways. Presently, 80% of the cargo moves by roadways which he feels is not right as it is creating an extra load on land transport and we should make optimal use of water transport as well. 

On the last and final day (6th February 2021), our Conclave was addressed by our Chief Guest, Shri Vikas Chaube, IRTS, Jt Secretary (Logistics), Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India 

The Jt Secretary (Logistics) focussed on the National Logistics Policy (NLP) highlighting the new initiatives, various changes/amendments, etc to be incorporated in the National Logistics Policy. Besides, he highlighted on the National Logistics Law, Digital Transformation in Logistics and last but not the least, National Logistics Workforce Strategy which would give a boost to the National Logistics Policy of the Government of India.

The Annual Conclave was presided by Mr. S Hajara, Chairperson, Shipping and Logistics Committee, 

The Bengal Chamber. The Conclave was moderated by Capt S B Mazumder, Mentor, Shipping and Logistics Committee, The Bengal Chamber, Capt Ravi Dey, Member, Shipping and Logistics Committee, The Bengal Chamber, Mr. Dinesh Shastri, Managing Director, T M International Logistics Limited (TMILL), Kolkata, Mr. Ashutosh Jaiswal, Co-Chairperson, Shipping and Logistics Committee, The Bengal Chamber, Mr. Debashis Dutta, Member, Shipping and Logistics Committee, The Bengal Chamber and Mr. Sagar Khastagir, Member, Shipping and Logistics Committee, The Bengal Chamber. 

The eminent speakers of the Conclave were Shri Vinit Kumar, IRSEE, Chairman, Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port (SMPT), Kolkata, Dr. Amita Prasad, IAS, Chairperson, Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Secretary, Government of India, New Delhi, Syed Yasser Haider Rizvi, Additional Managing Director, Summit Alliance Port East Gateway (India) Pvt Ltd (SAPL) and Alliance Holding Ltd, Bangladesh, Shri Rajesh Gopalakrishnan, General Manager (Strategy & New Projects), Cochin Shipyard Limited (A Govt of India Enterprise), Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Government of India, Kochi, Capt Tareque M Nasrullah, NPP, AFWC, PSC, (Retd) BN, Executive Director, Western Marine Shipyard Ltd, Bangladesh, Commodore Sanjay Deshpande, IN (Retd), Executive Director – Operations (Shipbuilding Division), Titagarh Wagons Limited, Kolkata, Shri Akhilesh Kumar Srivastava, IAS, Chief General Manager, IT and  Commercial Operations, Chief Operating Officer, IHMCL – Tech,  National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), Shri S A Rahman, IRTS, Chief General Manager, Container  Corporation of India (CONCOR), Kolkata, Mr. Keku Gazder, Chief Executive Officer, Airports Authority of India (AAI), Cargo Logistics  and Allied Services Company Limited, Mr. Ranjan Sinha, Chief - Group Shipping and Director – Raw Materials Procurement, Tata Steel Europe, Netherlands, Mr. Rajan Sharma, Past President, Nepal Freight Forwarders Association (NEFFA) and Consultant Advisor for  the Cross-Border Connectivity for the BBIN region, World Bank and last but not the least, Mr. Surajit Sarkar, Chief Operating Officer, NICDC Logistics Data Services Ltd (NLDS) {Formerly known as DMICDC Logistics Data Services Limited (DLDS)}, Noida, Uttar Pradesh. 

The Conclave brought together senior government officials, shipping and logistics companies, port users, trade representatives, industry representatives, policy makers, researchers, industry associations, academicians and altogether the total no of delegates present were 350 approx. The digital engagement of the conclave was: Total viewers 24,570, with total impressions – 12,19,497, and engagements – 42,993 (Total impressions include each viewer viewing the content a number of times. It does not mean number of persons who viewed but high Impression signifies that they came back to the content & The engagements signify the viewers participated in social media on the content.) 

The conclave was an eye-opener for the Shipping and Logistics Industry which comprises of bulkers, tankers, ship vetting/inspection, surveyors, vessel scrapping/recycling, port service providers like cargo handling agents, clearing and forwarding agents, custom house agents, custom brokers, then logistics service providers, etc as they had a clear understanding of the business scenario of Eastern India and about the trade relations between the East and the neighbouring countries and also what are the possible measures to be undertaken to further develop the Supply Chain network of this region. 

Overall, the Conclave provided a Way forward for the Shipping and Logistics sector which would help them to nurture in their respective business verticals, thus, resulting in improvement of the maritime and logistics business which in turn would develop the economies of scale.