Inaugurating the Administrative-cum-Academic Building at Indian Maritime University's (IMU) Kochi campus here, he said the BJP-led government at the Centre acknowledged the significant contribution that the shipping industry can provide to the country's economy.
"The vision of government for the maritime sector includes increase India's share in global shipping to five per cent, double the capacity of Indian ports in five years, establish new ports and transshipment hub and increase cargo movement on national water ways four times in five years," he said.
The government also acknowledges that the sector can offer on employment ability, infrastructure development and longterm sustainable growth, he said.
Radhakrishnan said the demand for skilled professionals in the maritime sector was set to grow in the coming years thanks to the steps initiated by the union government.
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"IMU has to play a vital role in supplying quality man power to the industry by imparting high quality education and training to the students. The government will take steps to make IMU as centre of excellence in the maritime sector," he said.
"I hope that the Kochi campus will grow from strength to strength and reach the top most position in ranking. The Kochi campus will be made as research centre from the year 2017-18," he said.
The IMU Kochi centre was established in 2009 with the first campus being set up at the training center of Cochin Port Trust.
The present campus is located in an area of 10 acre in Willingdon Island and includes newly built Administrative-cum-Academic building, a state-of-art marine workshop and a students' hostel.
K V Thomas MP, MLAs Hibi Eden and K J Maxi MLA; K Ashok Vardhan Shetty IAS (Retd), IMU Vice Chancellor and P K Nair, Director IMU Kochi campus were present at the occasion.