The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) hosted the Ambassadors’ Roundtable Meet in New Delhi on Wednesday, bringing together envoys from 28 nations, senior officials, industry leaders, and multilateral representatives to discuss maritime collaboration ahead of India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025, scheduled for October 27–31 in Mumbai.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal chaired the meeting, positioning India as a global hub for maritime trade, sustainable shipping, and the blue economy.
Sonowal urged international partners to view India as a hub for investment and innovation, pointing to the government’s $1 trillion maritime investment roadmap.
“India’s maritime journey is entering a new chapter under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji. With transformative initiatives such as Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, our ports, shipping and logistics ecosystem is becoming more resilient, sustainable and future-ready,” Sonowal told delegates.
He stressed that opportunities exist for global joint ventures in port development, cargo terminal operations, multimodal logistics, maritime services, shipbuilding, ship recycling, ship repairs, green hydrogen hubs, and sustainable shipping solutions.
During a sectoral presentation, R Laxmanan, Joint Secretary, MoPSW, showcased opportunities in Vadhavan Port, Galathea Bay Transhipment Port, Tuna Tekra Terminal, and new initiatives in green hydrogen hubs, LNG bunkering, shipbuilding, ship recycling, and maritime industrial parks.
Delegates discussed India’s core maritime priorities, including strengthening shipbuilding capacity, advancing port-led development, and positioning the country as a global maritime hub.
The roundtable highlighted the blue economy’s potential for sustainable growth and livelihoods through the responsible use of ocean resources.
Participants emphasised the need to accelerate the shift towards green shipping, adopting hydrogen-powered and low-emission vessels. They also discussed the role of digitalisation in maritime logistics to boost efficiency and transparency.
The importance of IFSC-GIFT City in driving maritime financing was underlined as a key enabler to attract global capital and foster innovation in the sector.
Envoys welcomed the government’s reform push, including five new legislations, the Bills of Lading Act, Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, Merchant Shipping Act, Coastal Shipping Act, and Indian Ports Act, that replace colonial-era laws and align India’s maritime framework with global best practices.
Sonowal said India Maritime Week 2025 would serve as a platform to convert ideas into projects and commitments into partnerships.
“India stands ready to collaborate and lead towards a maritime future that is prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive,” he said.
IMW 2025 will integrate the outcomes of the Ambassadors’ Roundtable to ensure the biennial flagship event reflects global stakeholder priorities.
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