India and the United States have agreed to deepen the scope of cooperation in the maritime sector.
The Union Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, recently paid a working visit to the States, where he held wide-ranging discussions with the representatives of Harbor Department of the City of Long Beach.
During his visit, the minister discussed investment opportunities in building and developing new ports, construction of new berths/terminals in existing ports, coastal economic zones, dredging, ship building, ship repairing, ship recycling, development of inland waterways and coastal and cruise shipping.
He told the US maritime sector that thematic studies and action plans have been developed across the sector for implementation.
Shri Gadkari went round the Port of Long Beach, exploring joint venture opportunities with India’s flagship companies operating in the maritime sector.
Shri Gadkari was also briefed about the higher container traffic at the Port of Long Beach fueled by rising imports. More than 2,000 vessels call at the Port of Long Beach each year, moving $180 billion in cargo.