A high profile delegation from the Imabari Shipbuilding Co Ltd recently called upon Andhra Pradesh’s chief minister Mr Nara Chandrababu Naidu to discuss varied opportunities in the shipbuilding, ship recycling and ship maintenance space.

The Japanese delegation was led by the company’s President Mr Yukito Higaki.

In the meeting Mr Naidu highlighted the vast opportunities that the state of AP presents to them while also deliberating on the need of skilling youth in the shipbuilding and green technology sector.

It might be noted that the government of Andhra Pradesh had recently invited EoI (reported in Vizag Industrial Scan’s Nov 16-30, 2024 Print edition) i.e. expression of interest from interested applicants wanting to be part of a shipbuilding cluster in AP.

As part of the EoI the Andhra Pradesh maritime board (APMB) invited global EoIs from reputed national and international firms, consortia, organizations to participate in the development of an integrated ship building, repair, maritime decarbonization and industrial ecosystem cluster in AP.

The cluster envisages a comprehensive ecosystem that will bring together all the major components of the shipbuilding industry i.e. raw materials, ancillary industries, quality control etc.

The EoI had called for proposals in a wide range of domains.

Some of these included Ship and boat construction yard, ship and boat repair hub, green ship recycling, ship maintenance, raw material and ancillary units, logistics and warehousing, testing quality control and certification, hospitality and healthcare, innovation & research hub etc.

Mr Nishimura from Sojitz Corporation a leading trading and investment company along with Vizag’s Lok Sabha Member or parliament, Sri Bharat and other high profile business leaders from the maritime sector participated in the meeting with the CM.

Dr. N. Yuvaraj IAS Secretary Industries and Commerce and Investment & Infrastructure, GoAP was also present in the meeting.