India’s First ‘Gati Shakti Research Chair’ Inaugurated at IIM Shillong

Shillong: In a significant move towards bolstering India’s logistics capabilities, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) and Ayush, Sarbananda Sonowal, graced the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony between MoPSW and the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) to establish India’s inaugural ‘Gati Shakti Research Chair.’

The Gati Shakti Research Chair, an initiative aimed at advancing academic research on multimodal logistics, particularly with a focus on the North-Eastern region, will play a pivotal role in developing strategies and practices for logistics development in the area. The chair’s objectives include facilitating collaboration with global experts, engaging with key stakeholders, and supporting research activities aligned with the PM Gati Shakti Masterplan to enhance logistical capacity in the East and North-East regions.

Expressing his enthusiasm at the ceremony, Sarbananda Sonowal stated, “The Northeast is poised to take the lead in the research & development of multimodal logistics activities, capacity building, and outputs. Students will have an opportunity to hone their skills and build their careers in the field of logistics.”

A Strategic Round Table, held at the Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Policy Research and Analysis at IIM Shillong, discussed the multimodal logistics development strategy for connecting the North Eastern Region (NER) to wider national and international regions. The discussions aimed to strategize the development of a collective NER logistics policy, aligning with the National Logistic Mission and operationalizing policies related to multimodal logistics in the NER.

Highlighting the transformative initiatives in the logistics sector, Sonowal emphasized, “India’s northeast has become front and center of New India’s growth story. The newly inaugurated Gati Shakti Chair will act as a catalyst to realize the full potential to emerge as a vital logistics hub connecting South Asia with South-East and East Asia.”

The Gati Shakti Chair initiative seeks to strengthen the collaboration between the government and academia, fostering high-quality research in integrated, multi-modal logistics, and enhancing supply chain resilience. It also aims to equip students and MSMEs in the region to leverage the benefits of initiatives like the PM Gati Shakti National Masterplan, National Logistics Policy, and the Unified Logistics Interface Platform.

The establishment of the Gati Shakti Research Chair is a testament to the government’s commitment to revolutionizing the logistics sector, bringing about speed, efficiency, and economies of scale.

The Gati Shakti Chair at IIM Shillong is poised to contribute significantly to shaping policies, optimizing logistics, and enhancing transportation infrastructure efficiency in the NER, aligning with the nation’s multimodal connectivity objectives.