“VIZAG SKILL SAIL 2025
Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) launched “VIZAG SKILL SAIL 2025 – Skill Development Conclave with Green Port Start-up” on 22.08.2025. The initiative aims to enhance Maritime Skill Development while promoting innovative start-ups focused on sustainable and green port practices. The programme brings together key stakeholders, including government officials, industry leaders, and academicians, to explore opportunities for skill enhancement, entrepreneurship, and eco-friendly port solutions.
Dr. M. Angamuthu, IAS, Chairperson, VPA, delivered the welcome address, setting the tone for the event. In his address, the Chairperson outlined the short-term and long-term perspective plans in line with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. He highlighted Visakhapatnam’s immense potential in the Maritime Sector and emphasized leveraging the Ministry’s initiatives to transform Vizag into a leading hub for Maritime and Skill development in the country. He specified State Government is actively supporting the Port’s developmental initiatives and envisions Vizag as both a Maritime Educational Capital and the Financial Capital of Andhra Pradesh.
Chairperson further noted that NITI Aayog identified Visakhapatnam as one of the key growth hubs in the Port Sector. He emphasized the availability of diverse institutions that support the maritime industry and reiterated the Port’s commitment in training around 5,000 students annually, 50,000 by 2030, and 5 lakh students by 2047. He encouraged the youth to utilize these opportunities and emerge as future entrepreneurs of the nation.
In his special address, Shri M. N. Harendhira Prasad, IAS, District Collector, Visakhapatnam, highlighted the State Government’s vision Swarnandhra 2047, which aims to achieve a 2.4 trillion-dollar economy. As part of this initiative, the Government has identified the maritime sector as a key area of focus, given that Andhra Pradesh has the longest coastline in the country. He stated that the Government is prioritizing port-led manufacturing to drive economic growth and emphasized that developing a skilled workforce is the need of the hour to transform Visakhapatnam into a future maritime hub.
In his virtual speech Shri R. Lakshmanan, IAS, Joint Secretary (Ports) reiterated Ministry’s vision in implementing skill development in coordination with the Andhra Pradesh State Government in the Maritime Sector. He further informed that Andhra Pradesh Government is taking initiative to develop Ship Building Clusters and proposing for Partnership with IMU, CEMS institutions.
Shri N. Sridhar, IRS, Principal Commissioner of Customs shared his insights and perspectives on the occasion stating the developmental initiatives taken up by VPA will soon bear fruits especially in making Vizag Port environmental friendly.
Shri T.K. Ramachandran, IAS, expressed the Green Port Start up Innovation Challenge has been launched to encourage pioneering ideas that can transform the Maritime Sector. He mentioned that the initiative focuses on areas such as Greener Ships and Cleaner Ports, Plastic-to-Product Innovations and Circular Economy Models, and Renewable Energy Integration in Ports and Ships.
He stated that these focus areas demonstrate the commitment towards ecological care and the integration of advanced technologies for sustainable maritime growth.
He further conveyed his gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi Ji, acknowledging his visionary leadership and inspiring guidance, which have reshaped India’s transport framework under the ethos of ‘Advancement through Connectivity’. He further noted that the Prime Minister’s emphasis on ‘Harbours for Growth and Harbours for Advancement’ continues to inspire efforts toward building greener and smarter ports.
Students from various institutions, comprising IMU, CEMS, and other business schools, actively participated in the programme. Experts from the Maritime Sector engaged with the students and addressed their queries.
At the conclusion of the conclave, Shri Durgesh Kumar Dubey, IRTS, delivered the vote of thanks.
Shri T . Venu Gopal Secretary, VPA released the information to the Press and Media.
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