Bhavna Pimpale –
India’s ambitions to emerge as a global maritime powerhouse took centre stage at the inaugural session of the FICCI Maritime India Conference & Expo (MICE) 2026 on 2nd November at Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mumbai, where government leaders, port authorities, shipping executives and international partners outlined a roadmap centred on infrastructure expansion, shipbuilding, digitalisation and sustainability.
Delivering the keynote address, Mr Nitesh Narayan Rane, Maharashtra’s Minister for Fisheries and Ports Development, announced that the state’s upcoming maritime development policy would be the “most investor-friendly policy in the country”, promising red-carpet treatment, single-window clearances and proactive support for investors. He highlighted Maharashtra’s success in converting all investment commitments signed at the previous India Maritime Summit into actual projects and pointed to a ₹26,500-crore shipyard project being developed with Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, expected to generate around 50,000 jobs.
“Maharashtra wants to lead the way,” Mr Rane said, adding that the state is committed to supporting investors from project conception through execution while addressing challenges such as land acquisition and environmental clearances.
In his welcome address, Mr Vijay Sankar, President-Elect of FICCI, described India’s maritime transformation as “a story of economic competitiveness, strategic capability and national ambition.” He noted that India’s major ports handled a record 915 million tonnes of cargo in FY2025-26 and said recent policy initiatives, including the Centre’s ₹70,000-crore maritime support package, offer significant opportunities for states and industry alike.
Echoing the investment theme, Mr Dhruv Kotak, Chair of FICCI’s Ports & Shipping Committee and Managing Director of JM Baxi, urged global shipbuilders and equipment manufacturers to consider India as a serious investment destination. He said supportive government policies, growing vessel demand and skilled manpower were creating unprecedented opportunities for the maritime sector.
The conference also underscored growing international collaboration. Thierry van Helden, Deputy Consul General of the Netherlands, said the recently elevated India-Netherlands strategic partnership presents opportunities in smart ports, green shipping and maritime digitalisation. Referring to the Green and Digital Sea Corridor initiative, he remarked that the challenge now lies in “turning that ambition into projects that make commercial sense.” He also announced a Dutch shipbuilding delegation would visit India in February 2027.
Government and industry representatives highlighted ongoing reforms supporting maritime growth. Capt SI Abul Kalam Azad, Nautical Adviser-cum-Additional Director General (Nautical) (In-charge), Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) pointed to digital platforms such as Maritime Single Window and e-Samudra, while Capt Binesh Kumar Tyagi, CMD, The Shipping Corporation of India Limited (SCI) described the current environment as the ideal time to invest in Indian shipbuilding. Meanwhile, Mr Gaurav Dayal, IAS, Chairperson, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) noted that the port handled more than 8 million TEUs last year and is on track to cross 9 million TEUs this year.
The event also saw the release of four industry reports on future-ready ports, logistics connectivity, shipbuilding and domestic container manufacturing, reinforcing the sector’s pivotal role in India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Marex Media