MoU inked for conducting short-term skill courses at ITIs
Vadhvan Port Project Ltd (VPPL), the upcoming 13th Major Port, conducted an event to felicitate the youth of Vadhvan as a part of the Vadhvan Port Skilling Program on Saturday, February 7, 2026. The event was graced by Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mr Vijay Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Mr Milind Mhaiskar, IAS, Addl. Chief Secretary, Forest, GoM, and Mrs Ashwini Bhide, IAS, Addl. Chief Secretary to CM, GoM.
The esteemed dignitaries were welcomed by Mr Gaurav Dayal, IAS, Chairperson, JNPA, and CMD, VPPL, in the presence of Mr Ravish Kumar Singh, IRTS, Deputy Chairperson, JNPA.
During the program, certificates were awarded by the Minister to students of the second batch who successfully completed the course. VPPL has also commenced offering internship opportunities to Batch 1 students following the successful completion of their course.
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.
Residential training program
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 event also 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, which aims at conducting 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 45,878 registrations from enthusiastic youth. 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, informed a release.
“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,” said Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, 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,” said Mr Gaurav Dayal, IAS, Chairperson, JNPA and CMD, VPPL.
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