Signing of a MoU between Vadhvan Port Project Ltd. (VPPL) and the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), GoM in the presence of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW
The Hon’ble Union Minister interacted with the students participated in Vadhvan Port Skilling Program
Vadhvan Port Project Ltd. (VPPL), the 13th Major Port of India conducted an event to felicitate the youth of Vadhvan as a part of the Vadhvan Port Skilling Program on Saturday, February 07, 2026. The event was graced by the esteemed presence of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Shri Vijay Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
The esteemed dignitaries were welcomed by Shri Gaurav Dayal, IAS, Chairperson, JNPA, and CMD, VPPL, in the presence of Shri Ravish Kumar Singh, IRTS, Deputy Chairperson, JNPA.
During the Program, Certificates were awarded to students of the second batch who successfully completed the course by the Hon’ble Union Minister. The course equips participants with comprehensive knowledge of customs processes, documentation, and procedures vital for the functioning of ports. The 4-week Custom Documentation course, comprising 100 hours of classroom training with practical exposure, equips participants with comprehensive knowledge of customs processes, documentation, and procedures essential for port operations. VPPL have also begun offering internship opportunities to Batch 1 students following the successful completion of their course.
The Hon’ble Union Minister also interacted with the students, congratulating them on their achievement and encouraging them to continue building their skills.
Further strengthening maritime skill development, confirmation letters were presented to 11 students of the GP Rating Course, conducted in collaboration with The Shipping Corporation of India (SCI). The course fee of ₹2.5 lakh per candidate is being fully borne by VPPL, underscoring the company’s commitment to providing quality training opportunities at no cost to beneficiaries. Under this agreement, SCI-MTI will conduct the course – GP Rating Pre-Sea Training- for candidates sponsored by VPPL, focusing on imparting essential maritime skills and knowledge to prepare them for careers at sea. SCI-MTI has the approval from the Directorate General of Shipping to conduct, for the GP Rating Pre-Sea Training Course. The duration of the training course is six months. The training course is residential in nature. Upon successful completion of the training and qualifying the Exit Examination conducted by the Board of Examination for Seafarers Trust (BEST), a certificate shall be issued by BEST.
In another key development, a Letter of Award was handed over to Gateway Terminals India (GTI) for implementation of the Kaushalya Nirmiti Yojana Skill Development Program. Under this initiative, students from the Vadhvan region will undergo a fully residential training Program at GTI’s newly developed training centre at Sheva, JNPA. The course will be conducted in batches, each batch comprising 30 students.
The Skill Development Program is designed to train youth as Container Terminal Associates across critical domains such as Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE), Operations, and Engineering. The initiative aims to enhance employment opportunities for the local youth of Vadhvan Port area, while building a skilled workforce aligned with the evolving needs of the ports and logistics sector. This initiative offers a fully funded six-month training program designed to empower and upskill the youth. Students enrolled under the programme will be entitled to a stipend during the one-year apprenticeship.
The event witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Vadhvan Port Project Ltd. (VPPL) and the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training (DVET), Government of Maharashtra.
This collaboration aims to conduct short-term skill courses at Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) under the Pradhan Mantri Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs (PM-SETU) scheme, launched by the Hon’ble Prime Minister. As part of this Program, students from 44 selected villages in the Vadhvan region will receive training free of cost.
As part of the initiative, VPPL has introduced a dedicated chatbot to simplify the registration process and provide real-time information about upcoming courses and opportunities. So far, the program has received an encouraging response, with over 45878 registrations from enthusiastic youth and a total of 162 batches, comprising over 6,000 students, are currently undergoing training for various courses. The skilling program encompasses 28 diverse courses, with additional options for participants to indicate their preferences for other relevant areas of training. VPPL has appointed a training partner to conduct these skilling programs.
VPPL, in the past, collaborated with various training partners and successfully conducted multiple skilling programs especially for fisherman, courses like Open Sea Cage Training through CMFRI , Fish Processing & Value Addition through CIFE. VPPL will continue conducting courses for fishermen as per the feedback received from the survey.
The initiatives reflect VPPL’s steady progress in harmonising infrastructure development with community upliftment, with a strong emphasis on skills and job-oriented training.
Quotes:
“Skill development is the backbone of India’s maritime growth story and is central to the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of a skilled, self-reliant and future-ready India. Through initiatives like the Vadhvan Port Skilling Program, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is following this vision by equipping local youth with globally relevant skills and meaningful employment opportunities. This integrated approach of infrastructure development and human capital creation will play a vital role in strengthening India’s port-led development vision.”
-Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
"At VPPL, our vision extends beyond building a world-class port. Under the guidance of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, we are investing in skill development programs that cover the entire port ecosystem—right from pre sea GP Rating course to customs documentation, container terminal associates and allied maritime functions—along with support roles such as office assistants, technicians, and other essential trades. These initiatives are designed to equip local youth with industry-relevant skills, enabling them to actively participate in and benefit from the development and operations of the Vadhvan Port.”
