Sanjam Sahi Gupta News

The Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (WISTA) executive committee held its election for three executive positions during their International AGM on October 13. The AGM was hosted in Hamburg alongside a conference that is taking place today and Friday.Connie Roozen, WISTA Netherlands, retains her position as treasurer for another term, whilst two new members were elected as Executive Committee members, Sofia Fu¨rstenberg Stott, WISTA Sweden and Nazli Selek…

A new initiative in light of the International Maritime Organization’s 2019 World Maritime Day theme, ‘Empowering Women in the Maritime Community' is launched in India.Sanjam Sahi Gupta of Sitara Shipping Ltd said that the company has launched three surveys to gather data from employers/owners, women seafarers and women in shore-based positions.Currently, no data is available on women in maritime in India and the shipping industry is missing out on 50% of the potential talent pool.Access to this data would enable the industry to promote equality and create an environment in which women will want to work.The surveys aim to understand at what level women are employed in shipping…

WISTA International Board Member and INDIA President Ms.Sanjam Sahi Gupta attended the first Annual General Meeting (AGM) of WISTA Sri Lanka that was held on 22nd of July 2015 .The event was graced by government heads such as the Hon. Minister of Shipping and Aviation Mr. Arujuna Ranatunga , State Minister Mrs. Rosy Senenayake together with other industry heads in the Maritime sector and WISTA members. After a highly successful year, the Sri Lankan branch of the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association (WISTA)celebrated a year during which its members worked together, canvassed  other women to consider careers in shipping, helped each other network, took part in community service and supported each other in an industry that’s still very male-dominated.

A Shipping Seminar on "Dry Bulk Chartering, Operations and Arbitration”  held on 27th June 2015 at the Narottam Morarjee Institute of Shipping, Nariman Point, Mumbai was well attended. The event which saw good response from WISTA members was orchestrated by WISTA Jt. Secretary Sumeet Sahi. The speaker for the event was Shri T V Shanbhag, Ex- Chief Controller of Chartering, Government of India, a very well-known and respected personality in the shipping industry. Sumeet Sahi welcomed all present and spoke about her attending an arbritration there Mr.Shanbhag was the arbritrator and how she was impressed by his wealth of knowledge as well as his down to earth nature. WISTA President, Sanjam Sahi Gupta spoke about WISTA and the benefits of being a WISTA member.

WISTA India proved that they are committed to enhancing skiil of all women in the Maritime Industry . On 17th April they organised a workshop on "Manage your customers" at India's premier Business school SP Jain Institute of Management and Research. “ Managing Difficult Customers “ was such an eye opener on how we, while selling ,  focus only on  pushing down prices , not realizing that in doing so, we are  not adding any value to the client or to our business in the long run. Knowing the customer, going deep into his needs, “LISTENING” , understanding his product + supply chain , and THEN giving a customized solution is what we need to do. And Prof Murty illustrated this so beautifully and effortlessly.

On 23rd January 2015, the Royal Mumbai Yacht Club saw around a hundred dignified members of the shipping fraternity gather for the second WISTA Annual Forum, an event that lived up to the industry’s expectations. The select crowd included long-term supporters of WISTA India and WISTA members, as well as members who flew down from Delhi, Chennai, Cochin and Bengaluru especially for this conference. The program commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp by key dignitaries – Hon Mr Deepak Shetty, the  DG of Shipping who was the chief guest of the evening, Mr Sanjay Bhaty, from Kandla Port trust, Mr.Umesh Grover, CEO of INSA and Ms Sanjam Sahi Gupta, the President of WISTA India and Board member of WISTA International.

At the 34th WISTA International AGM & Conference held in Limassol, Cyprus, Sanjam Sahi Gupta, President of WISTA India was elected to the board of WISTA International.She is the first Indian lady and the youngest to be on the board. The conference with the theme: 'Shipping Connects' was supported by Ministry of Communications and Works which include the creation and implementation of government policy in the sectors of transport, communications, public works and antiquities. The current Minister of Communications and Works, Mr. Marios Demetriades attended the program. The conference was attend by over 280 Ladies and Gentlemen from over 30 countries.

WISTA India conducted its second AGM on the 19th of September 2014, at the conference hall of the Narottam Morarjee Institute in Mumbai. The AGM was attended by 23 members of WISTA, and was presided over by WISTA India President, Ms Sanjam Sahi Gupta and the members of the Executive Committee. The AGM was followed by an open discussion session, where the Joint DG of Shipping, Mr Deepak Shetty, was invited to talk to the members and prospective members of the association. The discussions were centred around the realities in the maritime sector and the proposals for increasing women participation in the industry. The session saw a lot of constructive ideas and participation from the WISTA crowd…

The newst sub–chapter of Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association – was inaugurated in Kochi on the 29th of August 2014, making it the fifth chapter in the country. The sub-chapter was launched as a part of the 2nd Hotel, and was attended by eminent personalities from the Indian maritime industry. Mr Umesh Grover, CEO of Indian National Ship owner’s Association (INSA), and Mr Prakash Iyer, President of Cochin Steamer Agents Association (CSAA) inaugurated the launch as esteemed representatives of the industry and supporters of WISTA. The launch of the sub-chapter was marked by the unveiling and handing over of the WISTA flag to the dignitaries by the WISTA India Treasurer and Director of GAC Shipping (India) Pvt Ltd, Ms Miriam Mathews.

Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (better known as WISTA),  was  launched  in  Sri  Lanka  on  the  03rd  July  2014,  at the  Hilton  Residencies  Colombo  amidst  a  large  and  distinguished  gathering  including  the  Chairman  of  the  Sri  Lanka  Ports  Authority,  Chairmen  &  Chairpersons  of  leading  Public  and  Private  Sector  Organizations  and  Institutes. WISTA Sri Lanka will function under the Presidency of Ms. Shehara Jayawardana, and consists of a 20 member committee which, to date,  has been successful  in  attracting 49 eminent females from shipping and shipping related industries to join its membership. "We are deligted to welcome WISTA Sri Lanka to our ranks“, stated WISTA President Karin Orsel.

Within two years of the launch in India in 2012, the Women’s International Shipping and Trading Association (better known as WISTA), Ms. Sanjam  Sahi  Gupta, its Founder President, has moved fast to spread WISTA to the Indian sub continent. Her first significant effort in this direction has been the launch of WISTA in the neighboring country, Sri Lanka on 3rd July, 2014. To commemorate the occasion WISTA hosted a gala program at the  Hilton  Residencies  Colombo  amidst a  large  and  distinguished  gathering  that included  the  Chairman  of  the  Sri  Lanka  Ports  Authority,  Chairmen  &  Chairpersons  of  leading  Public  and  Private  Sector  Organizations and Institutes. Special Guests gracing  the occasion  were  Founder  Member  and  President  of WISTA  India,  Ms.