CARGOCONNECT-APRIL2025 - Flipbook - Page 8
F R O N T L I N E
NARENDRA MODI
Prime Minister of India
PIYUSH GOYAL
Union Minister for Commerce
and Industry
ASHWINI
VAISHNAW
Union Minister for Railways,
Information and Broadcasting,
Electronics and IT
We have decided to begin discussions
for a mutually beneficial Free Trade
Agreement between India and
New Zealand. This shall increase
the potential for bilateral trade
and investment. We’ve decided to
strengthen and institutionalise our
defense and security collaboration.
In addition to joint exercises, training,
and port visits, a roadmap for bilateral
defense industry collaboration will be
developed. Mutual cooperation and
investment shall be encouraged in
fields such as Dairy, Food Processing,
and Pharma. We have given priority
to mutual cooperation in the areas
of Renewable Energy and Critical
Minerals. Joint work shall be done
in Forestry and Horticulture.
As India continues to grow from a
US$4 trillion to a US$30 or US$35
trillion economy by 2047, the electrical
and the electronic industries will
play a major role in this journey. The
export volume of electronic goods
ranks second in the country in 2025,
compared to 167th ranked sector in
2015. In January 2025, the export
volume of electronic goods was US$3
billion alone. India should become the
one stop shop for electrical goods and
urged the industry to aspire to reach
the international trade export target of
US$100 billion in the next seven years.
The industry should work together
to bring competitive advantages in
manufacturing.
This year, a significant milestone has
been achieved in locomotive manufacturing, with 1,400 locomotives being
produced. If we include America and
Europe, India is manufacturing even
more locomotives than these regions
combined this year. Today, India is
exporting metro coaches to Australia.
Underframes are being exported to the
UK, Saudi Arabia, France, and Australia. Propulsion, which is a crucial
component of power electronics, is
now being exported to France, Mexico,
Romania, Spain, Germany, and Italy.
Passenger coaches are being exported
to Mozambique, Bangladesh, and Sri
Lanka. Locomotives are now being sent
to Mozambique, Senegal, Sri Lanka,
Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
8 | CARGOCONNECT APRIL 2025
NITIN GADKARI
Union Minister for Road
Transport and Highways
SARBANANDA
SONOWAL
Union Minister for Ports,
Shipping and Waterways
MAXIME PRÉVOT
Deputy Prime Minister and
Foreign Minister of Belgium
36 green highways are being built
along with projects costing `3 lakh
crore for port connectivity. The basic
problem facing the economy is logistics
cost, which stands at 14-16%. We
need to bring it down to 9%. Good
roads, alternate fuels will ensure cost
reduction. Exports will increase by
1.5%. Our problem is not resources but
expenditure. The size of the automobile
sector in the country which was `14
lakh crore in 2014 has now grown to
`22 lakh crore. In five years, India’s
automobile sector will be the second
largest in the world. There will be no
compromise on the quality of roads,
ensuring India matches the competitiveness of China.
Our commitment to transforming ports
and waterways remains unwavering.
Innovative programmes like Sagarmala
Start Up Innovation Initiative with
Maritime Innovation Hubs, Harbour
Craft Green Transition Programme,
Sagarmala Digital Centre of Excellence
among others will be set up to ramp
up efficiency in the sector. With an aim
to realise the vision of Atmanirbhar
Bharat, we have decided to set up
Bharat Container Shipping Line. India
is poised to be among the top five
shipbuilding countries in the world
by 2047. We are aiming to expand the
shipbuilding industry to be able to
construct ships with an additional
Gross Registered Tonnage (GRT) of
4 Million Tonnes (MT).
India and Belgium have reaffirmed
their commitment to strengthening
their logistics partnership, focussing
on enhanced trade connectivity and
supply chain efficiency between the
two nations. Belgium serves as a vital
gateway for Indian exports into Europe,
with the Port of Antwerp-Bruges playing a central role in facilitating general
cargo, project cargo, and chemical
shipments. Our trade volumes reflect
a strong bilateral relationship, with
India exporting refined petroleum,
diamonds, and pharmaceuticals to
Belgium, while Belgium supplies
critical products, including high-value
medical supplies and diamonds,
back to India.
