“Global Business Leaders of Maritime Sector Expressed Intent to Invest in the maritime sector of India at the Global Maritime CEO Forum:” Sarbananda Sonowal
FinTech BizNews Service
Mumbai, October 30, 2025: The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal addressed a press conference today as he announced that the ‘India Maritime Week, 2025’ has been a resounding success with more than Rs12 Lakh Crores (Rs12 Trillion-Tn) investment secured with more than 600 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) inked during course of the event.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal hailed the record Rs12 lakh crore investment commitments at India Maritime Week 2025 as a landmark achievement, reflecting global confidence in India’s maritime resurgence. The Union Minister said, “A surge of 41% surge from GMIS 2023 underscores India’s growing leadership in sustainable port-led development and its emergence as a key driver of the global blue economy. This is a direct result of our dynamic PM Shri Narendra Modi ji’s visionary leadership, which has transformed India’s maritime sector into a beacon of global confidence and opportunity”
PM Narendra Modi Unveils Landmark Maritime Initiatives to Boost Growth and Sustainability
On the third day of IMW 2025 (29 October, 2025), Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated a set of transformative maritime initiatives to the nation, marking a major milestone in India’s journey toward becoming a global maritime leader under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV), 2047. “The announcements made by our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji reflect the government’s commitment to expanding India’s maritime capacity, advancing sustainability, and driving indigenous innovation across the sector,” said Sarbananda Sonowal at the presser held here today.
As part of the initiatives launched by the PM, more than Rs2.2 Lakh Crores the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) announced plans to expand its fleet to 216 vessels by 2047 with an investment of Rs1 Lakh Crores, adding 10 million Gross Tonnage (GT) and strengthening India’s global maritime competitiveness.
In a major boost to Make in India, Oil and Gas PSUs launched 59 shipbuilding orders worth Rs47,800 crore, enhancing indigenous shipbuilding capacity and creating new jobs across coastal regions.
To promote green port operations, the Green Tug Programme was launched to deploy 100 eco-friendly tugs by 2040, with an investment of about Rs12,000 crore, supporting India’s transition to cleaner and energy-efficient maritime logistics. Additionally, the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) announced plans to modernise its fleet with 11 new dredgers to improve operational efficiency and strengthen coastal infrastructure.
“At the India Maritime Week 2025, these initiatives reflect our dynamic Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji’s vision of a green, self-reliant, and globally competitive maritime ecosystem, steering India toward Viksit Bharat 2047,” added the Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
Global Maritime CEO Forum
At the event, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the ‘Maritime Leaders Conclave’ and the ‘Global Maritime CEO Forum’, bringing together global maritime visionaries, industry leaders, and policymakers to chart the course for a sustainable and future-ready maritime ecosystem. The Prime Minister’s address underscored India’s commitment to transforming its maritime sector into a pillar of economic growth, innovation, and global cooperation under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047. PM Modi called upon international partners to collaborate in building a cleaner, resilient, and inclusive blue economy, emphasising India’s focus on green ports, digital transformation, shipbuilding, and inland waterway development.
The Global Maritime CEO Forum brought together an impressive lineup of industry leaders representing some of the world’s foremost maritime corporations. The forum served as a dynamic platform for dialogue on sustainable maritime growth, resilient global supply chains, green shipping innovation, and collaborative strategies to advance the global blue economy.
The leaders engaged in high-level discussions on sustainable maritime growth, resilient global supply chains, and green shipping initiatives, reaffirming their support for India’s maritime vision. “All participating CEOs commended the Government of India’s transformative policy reforms and pledged to deepen collaboration through new investments, technology partnerships, and joint innovation initiatives in the Indian maritime sector. They also expressed intent to invest in the maritime sector of the country,” Sarbananda Sonowal said at the press briefing today.
In a historic boost to India’s maritime sector, over 600 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) worth more than Rs12 Lakh Crores (Rs12 Trillion-Tn) were signed during India Maritime Week 2025, marking a new chapter in the nation’s journey toward becoming a global maritime powerhouse. The agreements reflect the government’s comprehensive vision for sustainable, technologically advanced, and investment-driven maritime growth under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
The MoUs cover a wide spectrum of collaborations across port development, sustainability, shipbuilding, port-led industrialisation, and trade facilitation. Of the total investment value, approximately 30% is directed toward port development and modernisation, 20% toward sustainability, another 20% for shipping and shipbuilding, 20% for port-led industrialisation, and the remaining 10% for trade and business knowledge partnerships.
Several high-value agreements were formalised between major Indian ports, global investors, and technology partners to accelerate the maritime sector’s modernisation and green transformation.
Key MoUs include:
Speaking at the event, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “The signing of over 600 MoUs demonstrates the unprecedented global confidence in India’s maritime potential. These partnerships are not just investments—they are commitments toward building a sustainable, resilient, and globally competitive maritime future. The agreements are expected to generate thousands of skilled jobs, accelerate port and shipping capacity, and catalyse India’s transition toward a green and digital maritime economy.”
With participation from more than 85 countries and 400+ exhibitors, India Maritime Week 2025 continues to stand as the world’s largest maritime convergence—turning Prime Minister Modi’s vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047” into a tangible roadmap for blue economic growth and sustainability.
Industry leaders and exhibitors from leading maritime nations participated in India Maritime Week 2025, underscoring the event’s growing stature as a global platform for collaboration and innovation. Delegations and companies from Sweden, Germany, Switzerland, the Netherlands, the UAE, Norway, Denmark, Singapore, Finland, the United Kingdom, France, and Japan showcased cutting-edge technologies and sustainable maritime solutions. Prominent global players such as Maersk, DP World, Vopak, Damen, CMA CGM, MSC, Wartsila, and Royal IHC joined innovators like Candela, Echandia, and Apocca, presenting advancements in green shipping, AI-driven automation, and smart port infrastructure. Their participation reaffirmed India’s position as an emerging hub for maritime investment, digital transformation, and the global blue economy.
India Maritime Week 2025 witnessed strong international participation, with 11 foreign ministers and their delegations attending from key maritime nations, reflecting India’s growing global maritime partnerships. The distinguished participants included Dr. Arvin Boolell GOSK, Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, Mauritius; Aung Kyaw Tun, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Myanmar; Robert Tieman, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Netherlands; Ms Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Norway; Murali Pillai, Senior Minister of State for Transport and Law, Singapore; Edoardo Rixi, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Italy; Ms Magdalene Dagoseh, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Liberia; Anthony Smith Jr., Minister of Agriculture, Land, Fisheries and the Blue Economy, Antigua and Barbuda; Capt. Abdul Latheef Mohamed, Minister of State for Transport and Civil Aviation, Maldives; Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih, Vice Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Saudi Arabia; and Mr. Anura Karunathilaka, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Sri Lanka. Their presence underscored the event’s role as a global platform for maritime diplomacy, cooperation, and sustainable blue economy development.
Countries such as Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Singapore had a strong presence at the event, marked by Joint Working Groups (JWGs), bilateral meetings, large delegations, and ministerial participation. These engagements reflected a growing ecosystem-level cooperation between India and these maritime nations, aimed at advancing shared goals in sustainability, technology, and maritime innovation.
Eight Union Ministers participated in India Maritime Week 2025, underscoring the government’s collective commitment to advancing India’s maritime and blue economy agenda. The distinguished ministers included Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Roads, Transport and Highways; Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change; Kiren Rijiju, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs; Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas; Keerthi Vardhan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs; Dr. Mansukh L. Mandaviya, Minister of Labour and Employment; and Shripad Naik, Minister of State for Power and New and Renewable Energy.
More than 20 ministers from various states and Union territories participated in India Maritime Week 2025, representing Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Arunachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Odisha, Goa, and Andhra Pradesh. They took part across multiple sessions and programs, showcasing the growing collaboration between the Centre and states to advance India’s maritime and blue economy goals.
