Kolkata: The Centre has amended laws related to the shipping sector to help the shipbuilding industry flourish and has modified maritime rules to ensure India becomes a major marine power, said Sanjeev Sanyal, member, Economic Advisory Council to the PM, on Wednesday.Speaking at a shipping and logistics conclave organised by the Bengal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCC&I) here, Sanyal added that India currently depends on foreign vessels for 90% of its exports and imports.“The shipping industry will support our economy. It has huge job potential,” Sanyal said. Recalling Bengal’s rich maritime history, with ancient ports in Tamralipta and Chandraketugarh, Sanyal said Bengalis had “shipping business in their blood”. He said efforts were on to leverage both Syamaprasad Mookerjee Port (Kolkata Port) and GRSE (Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited) to boost the city’s economy. He added that land owned by the port should be used strategically.Sanyal noted that the recent AI summit would help IT and allied sectors grow. He said traditional university lectures were becoming outdated and urged people to leverage AI.Later in the day, at a programme hosted by the Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), he lauded the Indian Salt Service, launched in 1806, as the oldest service in the country.He pointed out that the Tariff Commission existed between 1991 and 2022 with no real role in India’s tariff policy. “When I enquired about the efficacy of the commission in 2022, it was shut down as there were no policy inputs, though no jobs were lost,” he said. Sanyal also pitched for judicial reforms.Drawing a comparison, he said cities in Vietnam were much cleaner despite a lower per capita income, and India must follow suit. Terming Kolkata the growth hub of eastern India, he suggested infrastructure improvements and riverfront development. He added that Haldia Port has significant scope for development.
