Maharashtra’s Governor, Vidyasagar Rao while endorsing the need for skill development and skill up-gradation in the maritime sector, said that he will discuss the issue of providing maritime skill training to youth and skill up-gradation training to Indian seafarers, with the Union Minister for Skill Development Rajiv Pratap Rudy. The Governor was speaking at the inauguration of the state-level Merchant Navy Week at Raj Bhavan.
He added that skill enhancement will help seafarers to find employment opportunities on Indian and foreign vessels. The Governor said that even though 90% of India’s trade in terms of volume and 70% in terms of value moves through shipping, there is lack of awareness about the contribution of the shipping industry and the employment opportunities available in the maritime sector among the youth.