The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) has constituted a high-level task force to oversee the establishment of the Indian Maritime Centre (IMC). The main objective of the task force is to provide policy direction for the formation of IMC for smooth and sustainable operationalization, the ministry said in an office memorandum. The task force has been constituted under the chairmanship of additional secretary MoPSW, with representation from the domestic maritime ecosystem.
This move aims to build global credibility for the Indian maritime sector. The IMC Secretariat shall be built as a world-class facility, including equipped conference area and meeting rooms. The funding and secretariat support of setting up IMC will be provided by the Indian Ports Association (IPA).
The broad terms of reference of the task force will include deliberating upon the functioning, scope, and best structure of the Indian Maritime Centre (IMC) as well as its membership/constitution and standard operating procedures (SOPs). The task force will also decide the by-laws and internal procedures for IMC, including the role of expert committees.
India represents one of the largest and complex maritime industries, and the country needs a unified approach to maritime policy across different sub-sectors. This move aligns with countries like South Korea and Japan, which have a unified approach to maritime policy across different sub-sectors.
