India is ready to play the role of a steady lighthouse providing global players vast opportunities for expansion and investments in the country’s maritime sector with massive potential, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday.
Addressing the India Maritime Week-2025, which has participants from more than 85 countries, Modi spoke about the reforms undertaken in the past 10 years to give new impetus to the maritime sector.
“We have a vibrant democracy and reliability. When the global seas are rough, the world looks for a steady lighthouse. And India is ready and capable to play the role of lighthouse very strongly,” Modi said.
The government has decided an investment of Rs 70,000 crore in the maritime sector to boost domestic capacity, build greenfield and brownfield shipyards with an ecosystem that brings both investment opportunities and jobs to lakhs of people, the PM said.
“Amid global tensions, trade disruptions and shifting supply chains, India is symbol of strategic autonomy, peace and inclusive growth. Today, our focus is on inclusive maritime development. This is possible when all island developed states and least developed countries are empowered and equipped with technology, training and infrastructure,” Modi said.
Highlighting the importance of collectively rising to the challenges of climate change, supply chain disruptions, economic uncertainty and maritime security, Modi said, “We should together work forward to usher peace, progress and prosperity to create a sustainable future.”
Adding that the participation of over 85 countries itself is a big message, the PM said, “Your presence is an indication of our common commitment. It also shows the world’s trust in the Indian maritime sector.”
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Pointing out that the 21st century has proved crucial for the maritime sector in India, the PM said the next 25 years holds great significance. “The creation of Coastal Shipping Act has helped to make trade easier. Along with strengthening the supply chain, it will ensure balanced development on the coastal stretch… The sweeping reforms in the shipping sector is a continuation of the reforms taken in past one decade.”
Calling the transformation in the maritime sector in the past 10-11 years “truly historic”, Modi said, “Our port capacity has doubled, and the turnaround time and cruise tourism has increased phenomenally. The inland waterways cargo movement increased 700 per cent, while operationalised waterways have risen from three to 32. Our ports net annual surplus has gone up nine times.”
Claiming that Indian ports are at par or at times ahead of the ports in developed nations, the PM said that the World Bank Logistic Performance Index has acknowledged remarkable improvement in the maritime sector.
“India is among top three nations in terms of seafarers. The number of seafarers has increased from 1.25 lakh to more than three lakhs in the past one decade… Across the world there is not a single port when you don’t come across Indian ships and seafarers,” Modi said.
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India’s focus is on sustainable coastal development, green logistics and port connectivity, while ship building is high on agenda, Modi said, adding, “In the past, India was a major player in the ship building sector. At Ajanta Caves, there is a picture of a sixth century ship with three masts. This was the model adopted by other foreign countries centuries later.”
Recalling warrior king Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s vision in using the sea for security and as potential trade route, the PM said, “India-made ships played a major role in global trade. Then we went into the ship breaking sector. Now, India again is emerging as global maritime power.”
