Gandhinagar: Port sector regulator Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) will set up India’s first International Maritime Services (IMS) cluster at GIFT City.
The cluster will be developed as a dedicated ecosystem comprising of ports, shipping, logistics services providers, and pertinent government regulators, all present in the same geographic vicinity (GIFT City).
It will also leverage the proximity and accessibility of these stakeholders to enable a synergetic collaboration, Tapan Ray, Managing Director and Group CEO, GIFT City, said on Monday.
A state-of-the-art campus of Gujarat Maritime University, a premier institute for maritime education in India, is also coming up at the GIFT City.
“Establishing a maritime cluster is a much-needed step towards advancing India’s credentials and economic viability in this sector. We are delighted that India’s first international maritime cluster will be located in GIFT City which will help in realizing the full potential of India’s marine prowess,” Ray said.
“GIFT City has the unique distinction of being India’s first IFSC and inclusion of such institutions enhances our value proposition. GIFT City will provide a conducive ecosystem for the Gujarat Maritime Board to collaborate and innovate.”
GMB Vice-Chairman and CEO Avantika Singh said it will be the first of its kind commercial maritime services cluster in India, conceptualized to enhance competitiveness and self-sufficiency of the country in the maritime sector and provide a one-stop solution for the entire maritime fraternity.
“GIFT City provides us with a seamless environment to create a robust maritime fraternity and strengthen its value chain. It has state-of-the-art infrastructure and world-class banking facilities and institutions, that will be beneficial for fostering innovation, economic viability, collaboration, and business opportunities for the cluster. We welcome maritime fraternity to take advantage of this platform and participate in this initiative,” she said.
The cluster plans to host an array of maritime industry players, such as key regulators/ government agencies to ensure the ‘ease of doing business for the members; maritime/shipping industry associations and businesses, intermediate services providers, such as shipping finance, marine insurance, arbitrators, law firms, etc., and support services providers, such as maritime educational institutions.
The cluster also plans to house an Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Centre, focused on maritime / shipping. It will ensure economic benefits and ease of doing business for the maritime fraternity, which currently has to depend on International Arbitration Centers.
(VP)