PM Modi Hails $8 Billion Package To Rejuvenate India’s Maritime Ecosystem As A Signal Of Ambition

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted India’s growing and resilient industrial base, strengthened by the ‘Make in India’ initiative, and the government’s concerted efforts to modernise, mechanise, and digitise ports along the busy east–west trade corridor.

These developments, he said, have provided the nation with a unique edge in the evolving global maritime landscape.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Prime Minister referred to an article by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, who described the government’s $8 billion (₹69,725 crore) package to revitalise India’s shipbuilding and maritime ecosystem as ‘not a routine budget line, but a signal of ambition’.

Sonowal’s article, titled ‘India Can Lead the Global Shift to Green Shipping’, highlights that the global shipping industry—once perceived as slow in responding to the energy transition—is now undergoing a profound transformation.

The worldwide push to tighten emissions standards, the flow of investment towards zero-carbon technologies, and the rapid advancement in clean maritime innovations have brought the sector to a defining moment.

“In this swirl of change, India stands at a rare confluence of opportunity and capability,” Sonowal wrote, describing the developments as “a quiet revolution gathering momentum across the world’s oceans.”

He credited Prime Minister Modi’s leadership for laying a strong foundation in renewable energy, which has enabled India to achieve one of the world’s lowest renewable energy costs, giving the country a competitive advantage in the move towards green and low-carbon shipping.

A Strategic Investment for a Sustainable Future

The $8 billion package, recently approved by the Union Cabinet, aims to reimagine, revive, and rejuvenate the nation’s maritime and shipbuilding ecosystem.

It seeks to bolster domestic shipbuilding capacity, support sustainable port operations, and encourage innovation in green fuel technologies and maritime infrastructure.

Sonowal noted that this investment sends a clear message that India is ready not just to participate in, but to lead the global transition to sustainable shipping.

The government’s strategic vision, he said, reflects confidence in India’s industrial and technological capabilities to drive the blue economy while ensuring environmental stewardship.

Prime Minister Modi’s emphasis on self-reliance and innovation under the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision has strengthened the country’s maritime sector.

The integration of digitisation, modern port management systems, and renewable energy solutions has made India one of the most promising players in the international maritime arena.

PM Modi reiterated that the country’s industrial resilience and strategic infrastructure development along key maritime routes will empower India to lead decisively in the global green maritime transition.

The government’s efforts, he said, underline a shift from the question of whether India can join the global movement to whether it can lead it with conviction and capability.

With this ambitious maritime package, the PM Modi government aims to transform India into a hub for sustainable shipbuilding and clean maritime technologies.

The initiative aligns with global efforts to decarbonise the shipping industry while creating jobs, innovation, and investment opportunities across India’s coastal regions.

This bold move signals India’s intent to chart a new course in the maritime world—one that blends economic growth, environmental responsibility, and technological leadership.

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