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Mid East Info
13 hours ago
- Business
- Mid East Info
PCFC Concludes First Student Summer Camp with Graduation of 20 Participants - Middle East Business News and Information
Al Neyadi: Our investment in our students is an investment in the future of the institution and its economic and developmental directions, which support the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 The Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation (PCFC) successfully concluded its first Student Summer Camp, graduating 20 students aged between 8 and 12 years. This pioneering initiative reflects the Corporation's commitment to engaging the next generation in shaping Dubai's economic future and raising awareness about the essential services it provides for customers. The summer camp program offered a variety of interactive workshops , educational lectures, and hands-on scientific experiments, aligned with the Corporation's key areas of operation. Activities included conducting experiments in the central laboratory, visiting the maritime radar room, learning about maritime safety procedures, and touring the Corporation's library, where students read stories about historical sea voyages. The program also featured a healthy meal preparation workshop hosted by QE2 Hospitality Academy, a PCFC subsidiary. The graduation ceremony was held in the presence of students' families and led by H.E. Nasser Al Neyadi, CEO of the Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, alongside Saeed Al Bannai, Executive Director of Corporate Support Services. The students were honored with certificates in recognition of their active and positive participation. Speaking at the event, H.E. Nasser Al Neyadi said: 'Our investment in our students is an investment in the future of the Corporation and in Dubai's economic and developmental vision. This initiative is in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, which aims to position Dubai as a leading, sustainable global economic hub'. Al Neyadi emphasized the importance of encouraging youth to explore careers in the Corporation's sectors, which include environment and sustainability, commercial licensing, civil engineering, ports and maritime safety, and customs services. He highlighted the vital role these sectors play in national development and the importance of educating the community about them. He also expressed appreciation to parents for entrusting their children to the Corporation's summer program and commended the students for their engagement, stating: 'The success of this first camp encourages us to make it an annual event during summer breaks, allowing students to invest their time in activities that benefit their development.' 'We believe in raising our children in an environment that nurtures learning and positive interaction,' he added. 'This helps shape a generation that is well-prepared to serve the nation and tackle future challenges with confidence and creativity'. In detail, the camp program included an introduction to customer experience procedures and service delivery channels, hands-on scientific experiments in the PCFC Central Laboratory, a visit to the marine radar room, an overview of marine safety procedures, a trip to the PCFC Library to explore stories of historic sea voyages, and a workshop on preparing healthy meals presented by the QE2 Hospitality Academy affiliated with the Corporation. These activities, along with other educational and recreational programs, provided valuable experiences for the students.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Business
- NDTV
Parliament Passes Bill To Simplify, Update Framework For Shipping Documents
New Delhi: Parliament on Monday passed The Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, that aims to update and simplify the legal framework for shipping documents. The Bills of Lading Bill, 2025, which was passed by the Lok Sabha in March this year, was passed in the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote in the absence of the Opposition, who staged a walkout in the post-lunch session. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal moved the bill for consideration and passage by the Upper House. He said the new legislation will replace the Indian Bill of Lading Act 1856 as the Bill of Lading Act 2025. A bill of lading refers to a document issued by a freight carrier to a shipper. It contains details such as the type, quantity, condition, and destination of goods being carried. The bill seeks to make provisions for the transfer of rights of suit and all liabilities to the consignee named in a bill of lading and every endorsee of a bill of lading, to whom the property in the goods mentioned in the bill of lading shall pass, upon or by reason of a consignment or an endorsement.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
With growing disposable income, middle class is embracing cruise: Sarbananda Sonowal
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal says a five-fold surge in cruise passengers in India over the past decade has been fuelled by rising disposable incomes, a growing appetite for premium travel experiences and a greater awareness of cruise tourism. Edited excerpts from an interview with Shantanu Nandan Sharma: How realistic is the government's target of doubling the number of cruise passengers from about half a million now to 1 million by 2029? Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category PGDM Project Management Leadership Data Science MCA Degree Digital Marketing Product Management Public Policy Healthcare healthcare Finance Management MBA Artificial Intelligence Data Science Technology Design Thinking Cybersecurity Others Operations Management others CXO Data Analytics Skills you'll gain: Financial Analysis & Decision Making Quantitative & Analytical Skills Organizational Management & Leadership Innovation & Entrepreneurship Duration: 24 Months IMI Delhi Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Online) Starts on Sep 1, 2024 Get Details In 2013-14, the number of sea cruise passengers was only 84,000, which increased to about 500,000 in the last financial year. This shows a growth of almost 500% in just 11 years, also reflecting on the future growth potential in the sector. In FY2024-25, 93 international cruise vessels called at Indian ports. This huge growth has happened due to the concerted efforts of the government to provide a very good cruise tourism ecosystem in the country by bringing about changes in the policy that was dormant for decades, providing financial and tax incentives, adopting international best practices, creating cruise infrastructure, including world-class cruise terminals, and various other cruise-tourism friendly measures. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Beautiful Female Athletes in the World Click Here Have you noticed the trend of more upper middle-class Indians experiencing cruise tourism now? Cruise tourism is gaining strong traction among India's upper middle class segment. Growing disposable income at the hand of a burgeoning middle and upper middle class is enabling them to increasingly embrace cruise as a preferred leisure choice. This surge is driven by rising disposable incomes, growing aspirations for premium travel experiences and increased awareness of cruise holidays. The Maritime India Vision 2030 projects an eightfold expansion of the Indian cruise market by 2030, citing increasing demand from the middle and upper middle classes. Live Events But does India have enough new-age cruise terminals? There are six cruise terminals in Mumbai Port, Cochin, New Mangalore, Visakhapatnam, Chennai and Goa. The Mumbai Port international cruise terminal has been recently renovated, and the upgrade of the Goa Port cruise terminal is in progress. Further, cruise ships also visit the Andamans, Lakshadweep and Puducherry. Puducherry as a cruise destination had its first call only earlier this month. Also, India's river cruise tourism is witnessing robust growth, with 15 river cruise circuits operational across 13 National Waterways (NWs) spanning nine states. The number of NWs supporting river cruises has risen from just 3 in 2013-14 to 13 in 2024- 25, while luxury river cruise vessels have increased significantly from 3 to 25 during the same period. To boost inland water-based tourism, 51 additional cruise circuits have been identified on 47 NWs for development by 2027. Three world-class river cruise terminals are also planned, with construction already underway at Kolkata. Why are many cruise liners still hesitant to make Indian ports their home ports? The phenomenal growth of India's cruise sector is supported both by domestic and international ship calls. At present, Delhi-based Waterways Leisure Tourism Ltd has homeported one ship. Homeporting is a strategic decision of cruise liners, but our government has been proactively working on numerous aspects to make India a preferable destination.
Hans India
16-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
Experts highlight long-term frameworks for sustainable port devpt
Visakhapatnam: Panel discussions centred on enhancing regional maritime cooperation, port efficiency, cruise tourism, and human resource development across the Bay of Bengal region were held on the second day of the BIMSTEC Ports Conclave in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. Subject experts across various sessions offered insights into key issues related to maritime trade. The day began with a panel discussion on enhancing intra-regional trade, currently at just 7 percent. The session focused on the need to streamline customs procedures, eliminate regulatory bottlenecks, and address gaps in logistics infrastructure to facilitate seamless cargo movement and regional port efficiency. The following session highlighted the vast potential for cruise tourism in the BIMSTEC region, enriched by vibrant coastal ecosystems, rich cultural heritage, and diverse marine biodiversity. The platform focused on strategising future roadmaps for BIMSTEC port collaboration, synthesising insights from earlier sessions and outlining long-term frameworks for sustainable and efficient port development aligned with global standards and innovation goals. The final technical session of the day emphasised the importance of upskilling the maritime workforce, stressing public-private partnerships in maritime education, shipyard development, and port management to foster a competitive and future-ready talent pool. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal visited Hindustan Shipyard Limited and later reviewed Dredging Corporation issues along with VPA chairperson M. Angamuthu.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Day 2 of BIMSTEC Conclave focuses on maritime cooperation, tourism potential and port reforms
The second day of the 2nd BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) Ports Conclave featured high-level panel discussions on enhancing maritime cooperation, port efficiency, cruise tourism, and human resource development in the Bay of Bengal region. Subject experts moderated the sessions, offering insights into key regional challenges, while eminent speakers shared practical perspectives and solutions. The day opened with a session on boosting intra-regional trade—currently at just 7%—through streamlined customs, removal of regulatory hurdles, and improved logistics to ensure seamless cargo movement and port operations. A dedicated panel explored the vast potential for cruise tourism, focusing on collaborative promotion of cruise circuits, eco-tourism, and heritage-based coastal tourism, drawing on the region's rich biodiversity and cultural legacy. Another session outlined strategic roadmaps for BIMSTEC port collaboration, emphasizing sustainable development, innovation, and global best practices. The final technical session stressed the need to upskill the maritime workforce through public-private partnerships in maritime education, shipbuilding, and port management to build a competitive talent base. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal visited Hindustan Shipyard in the morning and later reviewed key issues at the Dredging Corporation of India. Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) Chairperson M. Angamuthu also participated in the conclave.
