New Delhi, Nov. 12 -- Andhra Pradesh is poised to emerge as a globally competitive maritime and logistics hub, with a major push towards port infrastructure, shipbuilding and ship repair, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said in Visakhapatnam at the 31st CII Partnership Summit held in the city on Thursday.

Addressing the summit, Sonowal highlighted the state's strategic advantages, including its approximately 1,053-kilometre coastline along the Bay of Bengal, access to key international shipping routes and proximity to major Asian manufacturing and trading economies.

He said these strengths position Andhra Pradesh to become India's principal maritime gateway to ASEAN, East Asia and the wider Indo-Pacif...