Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Launches New Maritime Initiatives to Enhance India’s Global Trade.
National
On February 27, 2025, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW), launched several initiatives, including One Nation-One Port Process (ONOP), Bharat Global Ports Consortium, and the MAITRI Application (App), aimed at modernizing India's maritime infrastructure and enhancing its position in global trade.
- These announcements were made during a stakeholder meeting in Mumbai (Maharashtra) focused on opportunities outlined in the Union Budget 2025-26 for the maritime sector.
Main Point :- (i) The ONOP initiative was launched to streamline processes with Immigration, the Port Health Organization (PHO), and Port Authorities. It aims to reduce container documentation by 33% (from 143 to 96) and bulk cargo documents by 29% (from 150 to 106), addressing inefficiencies, costs, and operational delays.
(ii) The consortium comprises India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) in Mumbai (Maharashtra), Sagarmala Development Company Limited (SDCL) in New Delhi (Delhi), and India Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation Limited (IPRCL) in New Delhi. It aims to enhance India's global port connectivity and trade infrastructure.
(iii) The MAITRI Application (Master Application for International Trade and Regulatory Interface) was launched to streamline trade processes, reduce bureaucratic redundancies, and expedite clearances, improving efficiency in India's maritime sector.
About MoPSW
Minister : Sh. Sarbananda Sonowal
Headquarters : New Delhi
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