Pratik Bijlani –
The highly anticipated India Maritime Week 2025 commenced on 27 October at the Bombay Exhibition Centre (BEC), Mumbai, marking the beginning of a landmark global maritime gathering organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW). The weeklong event, running till 31 October, is being held under the theme “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision.” Bringing together global maritime stakeholders, government leaders, investors, and experts, the event underscores India’s emergence as a dynamic maritime power, steering toward the twin goals of Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Maritime Vision 2047.
The inaugural session opened with the traditional lighting of the lamp, followed by an inspiring sequence of speeches from some of India’s most influential leaders. The dais saw the presence of Hon’ble Chief Guest Shri Amit Shah, Union Minister of Home Affairs & Cooperation, along with Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Shri Shantanu Thakur, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, and Chief Ministers from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and Odisha, symbolising India’s united maritime ambition across regions and leadership levels.
Dr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa, in his address, highlighted Goa’s growing importance in India’s maritime journey and its commitment to a sustainable blue economy. He announced a ₹200 crore investment by the Inland Waterways Authority for the development of Goa’s waterways and reaffirmed the state’s alignment with national initiatives like Sagarmala and PM Gati Shakti. He said Goa was positioned to lead in shipbuilding, cruise tourism, and green maritime initiatives under the spirit of “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision.”
Shri Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Minister of Odisha, emphasized Odisha’s 575 km coastline and its strategic role as India’s eastern maritime gateway. Highlighting projects like the ₹21,500 crore Bahuda Project and the ₹24,700 crore Sea Building Cluster, he envisioned “Samudra Odisha, Samruddha Odisha” by 2036, setting his sights on a $500 trillion port-led economy by 2047. He invited international investors to explore opportunities in port connectivity, logistics, and tourism in the mineral-rich state.
Shri Bhupendra Patel, Chief Minister of Gujarat, reinforced his state’s leadership in India’s maritime progress, noting that Gujarat handles more than 40% of India’s cargo. He outlined the state’s ongoing projects under PM Gati Shakti and Sagarmala, while reaffirming commitment to Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. Gujarat, he said, remains India’s maritime gateway—advancing innovation, blue economy, and skill development while fostering the spirit of Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Shri Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Maharashtra, echoed this sentiment by emphasizing the state’s central role in India’s maritime ecosystem. He lauded the Vadhavan Port project, which is set to become one of the top ten ports globally, and announced the Maharashtra Shipbuilding Policy 2025, designed to boost shipbuilding and attract global investments. He reiterated Maharashtra’s pivotal role in shaping India’s maritime resurgence through logistics, innovation, and port-led growth.
In his address, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, reflected on India’s remarkable transformation into a maritime powerhouse under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision. He proudly declared, “India Maritime Week 2025 is a grand celebration of India’s rich maritime heritage, visionary leadership, and ambitious future.” Sonowal shared that India’s port capacity has nearly doubled, cargo handling volumes have surged, and the seafaring workforce has grown by over 200%. He emphasized India’s goal to become a top-five shipbuilding nation by 2047 and underscored ports as gateways to a Viksit Bharat.
Finally, Shri Amit Shah, Chief Guest of the event, addressed the gathering, highlighting India’s transformation “from the Gateway of India to the Gateway of the World.” Commending the maritime vision set forth by the Prime Minister, he spoke passionately about India’s growing global role in shipping, logistics, and sustainability. He said, “India believes not in competition, but in collaboration — creating shared prosperity through partnership across oceans. Let us build a Maritime Future that is green, prosperous, and shared — a sea of opportunity for all.” Shah urged global investors to participate in India’s maritime growth story, emphasizing collective efforts to achieve a green and inclusive ocean economy.
The inaugural session concluded with a vote of thanks by Shri Sunil Paliwal, Chairman of the India Ports Association, followed by a video presentation capturing India’s maritime evolution and vision for the future. With this, the stage was set for the next major segment — the IMW Ministerial Plenary, marking a global congregation of maritime leaders and policymakers.
The IMW Ministerial Plenary, inaugurated by Shri Vijay Kumar, Secretary, MoPSW, showcased India’s growing global leadership in maritime affairs. Welcoming delegates from over 85 countries and more than 100,000 participants, he emphasized that India Maritime Week 2025 symbolized a new era of collaboration in the maritime domain. He announced $120 billion in investments through 600 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), major shipbuilding reforms, and five landmark maritime legislations that would redefine global cooperation in ocean governance.
Shri Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, opened the Ministerial session with a visionary address on India’s maritime transformation. He said, “India stands committed to building resilient supply chains, sustainable infrastructure and a digitally empowered maritime ecosystem in partnership with the global community. To this end, India offers a trusted and forward-looking platform for global investors and strategic partners.” He noted that port capacity has doubled, cargo traffic has increased by 50%, and AI and machine learning are now driving efficiency across India’s ports.
The Ministerial Plenary brought together distinguished leaders from around the world. Her Excellency Magdalene Dagoseh, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Liberia, lauded India’s leadership in uniting maritime nations and highlighted Liberia’s efforts in modernizing ports and empowering MSMEs. She invited global partners to invest in West Africa’s growing logistics and ship repair sectors.
His Excellency Dr. Arvin Boolell from Mauritius underscored the urgency of climate action and called for the strengthening of blue economy financing mechanisms, such as blue bonds and ocean-based credit frameworks. He praised India’s role as a reliable partner in sustainable maritime development and ocean governance.
His Excellency Robert Tieman, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Netherlands, reaffirmed the strong maritime ties between India and the Netherlands, emphasizing collaboration in green hydrogen, digital trade networks, and smart ports. Representing the Netherlands as a partner country, he praised India’s progress in port expansion and maritime digitalization under Maritime Vision 2030.
Her Excellency Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Norway, stressed that technology must be complemented with sustainable policy frameworks and skilled human capital to achieve true ocean sustainability. She praised India’s proactive approach in balancing maritime growth with environmental stewardship.
From Sri Lanka, His Excellency Anura Karunathilaka highlighted India’s regional leadership, particularly through Sagarmala and Maritime India Vision 2030, as models for South Asian cooperation. He urged regional collaboration to strengthen connectivity and resilience across the Indian Ocean.
His Excellency Aung Kyaw Tun, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Myanmar, praised the India-Myanmar Coastal Shipping Agreement for deepening regional trade. He reaffirmed Myanmar’s commitment to modernizing its ports and aligning maritime policies with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
His Excellency Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih, Vice Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Saudi Arabia, emphasized the Kingdom’s maritime sustainability initiatives under Saudi Vision 2030. He outlined projects promoting green shipping, smart ports, and decarbonization, including the NEOM Green Hydrogen Project, positioning Saudi Arabia as a global logistics and clean fuel hub.
Representing South Korea, Ms. Lee Hyun, Policy Advisor to the Minister of Oceans and Fisheries, celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Korea-India Strategic Partnership and reaffirmed commitment to zero-emission shipping and Arctic route development. She noted that trust and shared vision remain the foundation of maritime collaboration between both nations.
The Ministerial Plenary concluded with a keynote address by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, who formally inaugurated the session, reaffirming India’s leadership in maritime transformation. He highlighted that over 90% of India’s trade by volume flows through its ports and reiterated the nation’s vision to quadruple port capacity, establish green hydrogen hubs, and achieve net-zero emissions by 2070. He called upon global partners to collaborate in building a sustainable, inclusive, and innovation-driven maritime future for shared prosperity.
The day concluded with a Ministerial Group Photograph, capturing the spirit of unity and collaboration that marked the opening of India Maritime Week 2025 — setting the tone for the days ahead under the theme, “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision.”
Marex Media