EDITORIAL
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal attended the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between the MoPSW and the Indian Institute of Management -Shillong to set up India’s first ‘Gati Shakti Research Chair’ here in Meghalaya on Friday.
“The Chair will spearhead high-quality academic research on multimodal logistics with a North-East focus: building knowledge on multimodal logistics development strategies and practice in the North-Eastern region, facilitate knowledge and innovation for logistical capacity building in the region. The chair also aims to foster collaboration with global experts in creating and developing knowledge and expertise,” a MoPSW official said.
The Chair will also support the multimodal logistics research activities, capacity building, and outputs to enable PM Gati Shakti Masterplan to power the East and North East Region’s logistical capacity. With the establishment of this Chair at IIM-Shillong, Sonowal said, the North Eastern states are poised to take the lead in the research and development of multimodal logistics activities, capacity building and outputs.
“Students and fraternity will now have an opportunity to hone their skills and build their careers in the field of logistics. The ensuing 25 years are your Kartavya Kaal to continue on the empowerment led development of India,” he told students of IIM-Shillong.
A Strategic Round Table was also organised to discuss the multimodal logistics development strategy for connecting the North Eastern Region to the wider national and international regions to strengthen the local economy at the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Shillong.
The meet attempted at strategising for the development of a collective North Eastern Region logistics policy in line with the National Logistic Mission as well as steps for the operationalization and implementation of the policies related to multimodal logistics in the region.
Ambitious projects such as Arth Ganga and Mahabahu Brahmaputra have been initiated to foster holistic socio-economic development along the River Ganga and River Brahmaputra, Sonowal said.
“Under Narendra Modi, the Northeast region has experienced unprecedented growth and development with sustained peace. The region witnessed revolutionary infrastructural advancements, development in digital connectivity, prolific economic growth, and several other significant accomplishments,” Sonowal said.
He said the Government has invested over Rs 14 lakh crores in infrastructure development and connectivity of the North East. “The newly inaugurated Gati Shakti Chair will act as a catalyst to realize the full potential to emerge as a vital logistics hub connecting South Asia with South-East and East Asia,” he said.
Sonowal said that his ministry will also actively guide in shaping the research agenda, steering research priorities in line with the nation’s multimodal connectivity objectives, providing valuable industry insights, and facilitating collaboration among researchers, policymakers, and industry stakeholders in the north eastern region.
