“India’s Maritime Moment Has Arrived”
Mumbai gears up to be the Gateway of the World as India charts a $10 lakh crore maritime investment roadmap
Maritime News, Mumbai, India : Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah inaugurated the India Maritime Week 2025 (IMW 2025) in Mumbai on Monday, calling it a defining moment in India’s maritime journey and a symbol of the country’s emergence as a global maritime power.
The inaugural session, held at the NESCO Exhibition Centre, was attended by Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), Bhupendra Patel (Gujarat), Dr. Pramod Sawant (Goa), and Mohan Charan Majhi (Odisha), alongside Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and other senior dignitaries from India and abroad were also present.
“Gateway of India Becoming the Gateway of the World”
Declaring that “India’s Maritime Moment has arrived,” Shah said that Mumbai — home to the historic Gateway of India — is transforming into the Gateway of the World.
He noted that India’s 11,000-km coastline, 13 coastal states, and 23.7 lakh sq. km Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) collectively account for nearly 60% of India’s GDP and house over 800 million people.
“Our maritime geography is not just a natural asset — it is a strategic advantage,” Shah said. “India is leveraging its coastline, democratic stability, and naval capability to serve as a bridge between the Indo-Pacific and the Global South.”
India Maritime Week 2025: Record Global Participation
The five-day summit, themed “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision”, has attracted delegations from over 100 countries, 500 companies, 350 speakers, and more than one lakh delegates.
Expected investment commitments at the event exceed ₹10 lakh crore, reflecting international confidence in India’s maritime economy.
Shah said, “India believes not in competition, but in cooperation. Our vision is to integrate India’s maritime sector with the global maritime economy through partnership and shared progress.”
Ports, Projects, and a $30 Trillion Vision
Shah outlined the Modi government’s three-pillar maritime strategy — Security, Stability, and Self-Reliance, anchored by flagship initiatives such as Sagarmala, Maritime India Vision 2030, and the Blue Economy Mission.
India, he said, aims to become one of the top five shipbuilding nations globally, with mega and deep-draft port projects, a target of 10,000 million metric tonnes per year in cargo handling, and complete digitisation of port operations.
He also highlighted India’s growing involvement in international connectivity projects, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), the Eastern Maritime Corridor, and the North-South Transport Corridor.
Sagarmala and Beyond: $70 Billion Pipeline
The Minister revealed that under the Sagarmala Project, 839 projects worth $70 billion have been identified, of which 272 projects worth $17 billion are already complete.
He also announced progress on the $5 billion Great Nicobar Port Project, a $200 million dry dock at Cochin Shipyard, and the development of a Maritime Heritage Complex in Gujarat to showcase India’s 5,000-year maritime legacy.
Reforms such as the Major Port Authorities Act (2021) and the Indian Ports Bill (2025) have modernised port governance, granting greater autonomy and efficiency to India’s major ports.
Blue Economy and Green Vision
Shah underlined the importance of balancing economic ambition with environmental responsibility, noting that coastal shipping has grown by 118% and cargo handling by 150% in the last decade.
“India’s goal is to build a Green Maritime Future — a maritime economy that grows without harming nature,” Shah said.
“For the Small Island States and countries in the Global South, the ocean is life. India will stand with them to ensure sustainable growth and climate resilience.”
He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s MAHASAGAR vision — Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions — has evolved into a framework for India’s global maritime leadership.
India’s Maritime Policy Budget Multiplied Sixfold
Over the last decade, Shah said, the government has increased maritime sector funding sixfold — from $40 million to $230 million. This expansion, coupled with structural reforms, has made the Indian maritime sector “a source of national strength, regional stability, and global prosperity.”
With two-thirds of global trade passing through the Indo-Pacific and 90% of India’s trade conducted via sea routes, Shah said India’s maritime strength will be critical to achieving Viksit Bharat 2047 and the government’s long-term $30 trillion economy target.
A New Maritime Era for India
In his closing remarks, Shah said that India Maritime Week 2025 is more than an event — it is a declaration of intent.
“From being the Gateway of India, Mumbai will now be the Gateway of the World,” he said.
“Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, India is ready to create a new maritime history — one defined by cooperation, sustainability, and global leadership.”
