India expects to enhance port capacity; works with Rotterdam port to digitalise cargo processes

While noting that India needs to significantly enhance the port capacities Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday said Indian and Rotterdam port authorities are working to digitalise processes in the country to speed up cargo evacuation and reduce ship turnaround times according to news agency PTIThe customs authorities in India and the authorities at the Port of Rotterdam are engaged to see how we can digitalise in India to bring in modern standards faster evacuation of cargo and speed up the turnaround time of ships he saidDespite doubling our port capacity over the past decade India still needs more capacity By 2047 we expect port capacity to double twice over the next two decades to support GDP growth and international trade he addedVisits Rotterdam PortThe minister visited the Port of Rotterdam and met Port of Rotterdam CEO Boudewijn Siemons as part of efforts to deepen maritime and trade cooperation between India and the NetherlandsRotterdam port is Europes largest seaport and is a gateway for Indian goods to the European market It is also a key hub for international trade and global supply chainsIt was a pleasure to visit the Port of Rotterdam one of Europersquos leading maritime gateways and experience its operations firsthand during a tour aboard a port vessel alongside its CEO Mr Boudewijn Siemons Goyal said in a social media post on XNew opportunities for trade and investmentWe exchanged views on advancing portled growth enhancing logistics efficiency strengthening supply chain connectivity and unlocking new opportunities for trade and investment he addedThe Union Minister said there is the opportunity for India to draw upon Rotterdams expertise as the country modernises its existing portsAs India modernises its existing ports and develops stateoftheart maritime infrastructure there is immense potential to collaborate with the Port of Rotterdam draw on its expertise and strengthen IndiaNetherlands cooperation he saidIt was a pleasure to visit the Port of Rotterdam one of Europersquos leading maritime gateways and experience its operations firsthand during a tour aboard a port vessel alongside its CEO Mr Boudewijn Siemons We exchanged views on advancing portled growth enhancing logistics efficiency strengthening supply chain connectivity and unlocking new opportunities for trade and investment As India modernises its existing ports and develops stateoftheart maritime infrastructure there is immense potential to collaborate with the Port of Rotterdam draw on its expertise and strengthen IndiaNetherlands cooperation mdash Piyush Goyal PiyushGoyal October 25 2026IndiaEU FTAThe ministers visit to the Port of Rotterdam is important in the context of the IndiaEU Free Trade Agreement as it is expected to create significant new opportunities for Indian exporters Goyal said the pact will provide huge potential to businesses of both sidesThe IndiaEuropean Union EU free trade agreement is expected to be signed by the end of this year and may come into force in the first quarter of 2027Asks youth to be responsibleGoyal invited the professionals and academicians to tie with Indian institutes and mentor startups while pointing out that youth in some parts of the world are getting swayed by negativitySadly you see whats happening in Europe in many countries that is the only reason I focused on youthse problems sometimes come up in India alsoIdea is that the youth have to be more responsive and responsibleyour first loyalty has to be with the land that provides you work and feeds your family he saidWith inputs from PTI