Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal inaugurates School of Logistics, Waterways and Communication in Agartala: The School of Logistics, Waterways and Communication in Agartala was opened by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Tripura Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha. This new institution aims to provide world-class education and training to the region’s talented individuals, allowing them to excel in the transportation and logistics industry. The school’s mission is to tap into the economic potential of the Northeast by harnessing the human resources of the region’s waterways and transportation sector, as outlined by Minister Sonowal.
January 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
School of Logistics, Waterways and Communication:
The Centre for Logistics, Communication and Waterways conducts research, training, workshops, and seminars for a variety of stakeholders, including businesses, exporters/importers, Chambers of Commerce and Industries, local entrepreneurs, and tour operators, with the goal of enhancing the logistics and transportation sector. The centre is established under the State Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development (SIPARD), an autonomous body funded by both the Government of Tripura and the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.
National Waterways And Other Initiatives:
The investment has now been increased to Rs 148 crores until 2024–2025 in order to fully build NW 16 (Barak) and the IBP Route nos. 5 & 6 and 9 & 10 for efficient connectivity within and from the region. Under the PM Gati Shakti initiative, multi-modal connectivity, Tripura is to be connected through IBP route 9 & 10 with Kolkata/Haldia Port and then on to Chittagong Port in Bangladesh & Sittwe Port in Myanmar. The Government of India is providing financial assistance under the Central Sector Scheme for development of Inland Waterway in the Northeast including Tripura.
India-Bangladesh Cooperation:
In order to revamp the international trade between the Northeast India and Bangladesh, the waterways play a crucial role, said Sonowal. The two countries have renewed and strengthened the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade that outlines new measures to facilitate the inland water trade, develop infrastructure and improve cross-country transport and logistics facilities. In addition to the existing 6 ports of call, five additional ports of call and two extended ports of call on each side has been agreed along with a longer period of 5 years (against the 2 year validity earlier) for protocol renewal.