Centre Looking To Develop Gujarat’s Bhavnagar As Container Manufacturing Hub; Eyes Rs 1,000 Cr Investment

In a major push for the nation to become 'Atmanirbhar' in meeting its burgeoning needs for containers, the Government has doubled down on transforming Gujarat's Bhavnagar as a container manufacturing hub, reports Economic Times.

Under the push, the Government has already set up pilot projects in the area and has selected 10 places for the job as per details made public by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mansukh Mandaviya.

"India requires about 3.5 lakh containers every year. ...There is no container production in India and we have to depend mainly on China which is a global producer. Now we want to develop Bhavnagar in Gujarat as a container hub and we have selected 10 places there for its production on a pilot basis," Mandaviya shared.

He added that over the last six months, the Government has taken several initiatives and engaged with re-rolling and furnace makers in Bhavnagar to encourage them to expand and take up the manufacturing of containers. He also stated that the Government is expecting private players to invest about Rs 1,000 crore for the same, which will also lead to the creation of one lakh new employment opportunities.

The development gains significance as there are reports of a global shortage of containers. The minister expressed confidence that once manufacturing picks up domestically, India won’t depend on foreign nations for its import.

"We had a meeting with shipliners associations. Shipping liner associations have assured us that they will purchase the containers providing reasonable profits...They have assured us that they will not import it once indigenous production starts," he said.