Addressing a workshop on ‘Principles of FIDIC Contracts’ for the officers of Directorate General Naval Projects (DGNP) Visakhapatnam, Vice Admiral Srinivasan Gopinathan, AVSM, VSM, Director General of Navy Projects (DGNP) Indian Navy underscored the critical importance of contract management within the defence sector.
Highlighting India’s strategic positioning with its extensive coastline, Vice Admiral Gopinathan noted that this year’s capital budget allocated to the Navy is the highest so far. He emphasized the importance of infrastructure creation in a timely manner and role of FIDIC principles in contracting. Vice Admiral Gopinathan shared an insightful perspective on continuous learning.
He remarked, “Learning never stops if you remain inquisitive. The journey of knowledge begins when you acknowledge what you don’t know.” His words underscored the significance of lifelong learning and professional growth in the ever-evolving field of defence.
Mr Ajit Kumar Mishra, General Manager of the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Ltd. (DFCCIL), highlighted the comprehensive range of topics covered in the workshop.
These included FIDIC Standard Contract Forms, such as the Red, Yellow, and Silver Contract Forms, as well as discussions on Contractor’s Claims, Employer’s Claims, Prolongation and Delay Claims in Infrastructure Projects, the Role and Importance of Experts, the Dispute Resolution Mechanism in FIDIC Contract Forms, and Commercial Arbitration.
The workshop was organized by the Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam wherein 31 officers from Directorate General Naval Projects (DGNP) Visakhapatnam participated in the program.
FIDIC stands for Fédération Internationale des Ingénieurs–Conseils, which translates to International Federation of Consulting Engineers in French.
FIDIC contracts are standard forms of contract for civil engineering projects that are used globally. They are designed to help companies avoid excessive liability and to standardize contracts for construction projects.