Mumbai, 27 October 2025

India Maritime Week 2025 opened in Mumbai with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) leading a series of landmark agreements and global collaborations focused on sustainability, innovation, and investment in the maritime sector. The inaugural Ministerial Plenary, chaired by Shri Shantanu Thakur, Hon’ble Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and addressed by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, brought together maritime ministers and delegates from over ten nations, including Norway, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka.

Addressing the plenary, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal described India Maritime Week as a turning point in India’s maritime journey, reaffirming India’s goal to triple its global trade share by 2047 through policy reforms, digitalisation, and capacity expansion. Shri Shantanu Thakur emphasised that skilling and sustainability are at the heart of India’s maritime transformation, aimed at building a smart, green, and globally connected ecosystem that empowers industry while protecting the environment.

A major highlight of the day was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Maritime Cooperation between India and the Netherlands, along with a Letter of Intent on the establishment of a Green and Digital Sea Corridor connecting Indian ports with the Port of Rotterdam. These initiatives will promote cooperation in clean fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol, along with digital port operations and logistics innovation, marking a significant step toward maritime decarbonisation and sustainable connectivity between the two countries.

Several business MoUs were also signed and exchanged in the presence of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and other dignitaries. These include an MoU between Invest International and Indian Bank & ICICI Bank for cooperation in maritime financing; an MoU exchange between Dutch Climate Fund Managers and their Indian counterpart regarding India’s Maritime Development Fund; an MoU between MARIN (Maritime Research Institute Netherlands) and the National Centre of Excellence for Green Ports and Shipping for joint research on green shipping technologies; and an MoU between the Port of Rotterdam and the Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla Port) for institutional cooperation and digital knowledge exchange. A Dutch-funded market study titled “Indian Ports: Enabling Smart and Sustainable Port Development,” prepared by KPMG, was also launched to assess India’s port infrastructure and identify opportunities for green and digital transformation.

Additionally, MoUs worth about ₹55,000 crore were signed with leading global and Indian companies, including Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd., JSW Infrastructure Ltd., Chowgule & Co. Pvt. Ltd., Synergy Shipbuilders & Dock Ltd., Goa Shipyard Ltd., Abu Dhabi Ports Group, and Echandia Marine AB. These partnerships focus on port expansion, shipyard infrastructure, skill development, and green shipbuilding initiatives.

Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said that the MoUs and partnerships signed today reflect India’s integrated approach to building a clean, connected, and globally competitive maritime future. Minister of State Shri Shantanu Thakur added that India Maritime Week 2025 demonstrates how global partnerships and state-level innovation together are shaping the maritime vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, also addressed the session on “Innovative Mechanisms for Ship Financing,” highlighting the maritime sector’s USD 1 trillion potential and calling for adoption of innovative financial models such as TOT, InvITs, and PPPs to attract private investment. He also released the CMEG (RIS) – India Maritime Report 2025-26 titled “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision: India’s Maritime Strides.”

The Goa State Session, organised by the Mormugao Port Authority, was graced by Dr. Pramod Sawant, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, and witnessed the launch of the Goa Maritime Vision Document along with MoUs worth ₹3,525 crore in LNG and solar infrastructure, as well as ₹6,163 crore in strategic port projects. The day also hosted the Sagarmanthan: Great Oceans Dialogue and Amrit Kaal Sessions on ship financing and registration, drawing participation from global experts, financiers, and policymakers.

In addition, state sessions on Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands highlighted the potential areas of growth in the maritime sector and showcased regional strengths and opportunities for investment and collaboration.

PIB Mumbai | Jaydevi PS / Pranab Nath / Priti Malandkar

 

 

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(Release ID: 2183140)