Pratik Bijlani –
India Maritime Week 2025, held in Mumbai under the theme “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision,” has set a new benchmark for the global maritime industry. The event, inaugurated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has brought together over 85 participating countries, 1,00,000 delegates, 500 exhibitors, and 350 international speakers — making it the world’s largest convergence of maritime leadership, innovation, and investment.
Addressing the media at a high-profile press conference, Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, announced that the event has been a resounding success with investment commitments exceeding ₹12 lakh crores through the signing of more than 600 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs). He hailed this as a landmark achievement, marking a 41% surge in investment over GMIS 2023. “A surge of 41% 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 Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership, which has transformed India’s maritime sector into a beacon of global confidence and opportunity,” Mr Sonowal said.
The Union Minister highlighted India’s steady rise as a global maritime power, driven by the vision of Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, both of which chart India’s path toward a sustainable and self-reliant maritime future. “India is ready to be at the forefront of the global maritime economy — building ships in India, repairing them in India, and operating them from India,” said Shri Sonowal. He further added, “Under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, we are creating a sustainable, self-reliant, and globally competitive maritime industry for the future.”
Prime Minister Mr Modi, during his address at the Global Maritime CEO Forum, launched transformative maritime initiatives worth over ₹2.2 lakh crore aimed at shipbuilding, green port development, and fleet modernization. The Shipping Corporation of India announced an ambitious expansion plan to grow its fleet to 216 vessels by 2047 with an investment of ₹1 lakh crore, while major Oil and Gas PSUs placed 59 shipbuilding orders worth ₹47,800 crore, reinforcing India’s Make in India initiative.
Among the key green initiatives, the Green Tug Programme was launched to deploy 100 eco-friendly tugs by 2040 with an investment of ₹12,000 crore. The Dredging Corporation of India also announced the modernization of its fleet with 11 new dredgers, further advancing India’s sustainable maritime capabilities.
The MoUs signed at India Maritime Week 2025 spanned a wide range of sectors including port development, shipbuilding, green hydrogen, digital transformation, and maritime training. Notable agreements included V.O. Chidambaranar Port’s ₹47,000 crore Green Ammonia Plant with Jindal India Power Ltd, Paradip Port’s ₹45,000 crore Green Hydrogen project with ACME Clean Tech, and Mumbai Port Authority’s ₹23,000 crore logistics park development with Lai Investment Manager Pvt. Ltd.
The event also saw robust international participation, with 11 foreign ministers and delegations from leading maritime nations such as Norway, Singapore, the Netherlands, and Denmark, reaffirming India’s growing role in global maritime cooperation. Industry giants including Maersk, DP World, Vopak, and CMA CGM showcased cutting-edge technologies that highlighted India’s expanding influence in green shipping and digital port transformation.
With visionary leadership, record investments, and unprecedented global collaboration, India Maritime Week 2025 has truly marked a turning point in India’s maritime journey — steering the nation towards a future where the seas become engines of growth, sustainability, and national pride.
Marex Media