Oslo, 5 June 2025 — In a strong demonstration of its global maritime ambitions, India made a powerful statement at Nor-Shipping 2025 in Oslo with the India@Nor-Shipping, Green Maritime session, themed “Maritime Partnership for a Shared & Sustainable Future.” Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, addressed a distinguished gathering of maritime experts, industry leaders, and policymakers from around the world. His keynote speech projected India’s vision of becoming a green, secure, efficient, and inclusive maritime nation, and emphasized the country’s bold commitment of USD 20 billion towards infrastructure development in the maritime and logistics sector.
🚢 A Future Anchored in Visionary Leadership and Strategic Investment
The Minister outlined how India, under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is steadfast in its march towards Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat. Central to this journey is the maritime sector—not merely as a trade facilitator, but as a core enabler of sustainable economic growth, environmental resilience, and global strategic connectivity. The allocated investment is strategically aimed at enhancing multimodal logistics, port connectivity, and trade facilitation, all of which are being seen as critical components of India’s growth story.
India’s focus on modernising port infrastructure, boosting logistics efficiency, and creating a policy-friendly investment environment has already yielded measurable results. Enhanced port performance, smoother cargo flows, and rising investor confidence now define the country’s port ecosystem.
🌍 Strengthening Global Maritime Supply Chains
Sonowal also emphasized India’s growing influence in international connectivity through key strategic maritime corridors. The development and strengthening of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) with Russia, and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) with Central Asia and Europe signify India’s commitment to ensuring supply chain resilience and geostrategic relevance.
The Minister declared, “India is working to become a credible and competitive alternative. Through policy incentives, ease of doing business, and infrastructure enhancement, we are laying the foundation for India to emerge as one of the top five shipbuilding nations by 2047.”
🌱 Commitment to Green Maritime Technologies
In a landmark announcement, Sonowal stated India is establishing three Green Hydrogen Hub Ports—Kandla, Tuticorin, and Paradip—to spearhead the country’s transition toward alternative fuels and a carbon-neutral maritime sector. These ports are envisioned to become hubs for green hydrogen and derivatives, providing fuel for green shipping corridors and supporting India’s IMO Green Voyage 2050 leadership role.
India is also actively transitioning to digital maritime ecosystems through innovative platforms like:
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ONOP (One Nation, One Port Process)
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National Logistics Portal (Marine)
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MAITRI – Virtual Trade Corridor
These initiatives aim to unify digital infrastructure across the port and logistics sectors, improving transparency, reducing transaction time, and enhancing the ease of doing EXIM (export-import) business.
🔧 India: A Resurgent Shipbuilding Powerhouse
Another highlight was the dedicated session “India: The Resurgent Shipbuilding Destination” which underscored India’s emergence as a reliable manufacturing and innovation hub for next-generation, sustainable ships. By leveraging economies of scale, a skilled workforce, and targeted policy reforms, India is swiftly transitioning into a shipbuilding powerhouse. The session highlighted collaborative opportunities with international players and ongoing efforts to increase shipbuilding capacity in public and private sectors alike.
🔄 Circular Economy and Green Ship Recycling
India’s Hong Kong Convention-compliant ship recycling framework was showcased in a special session titled “Ship Recycling – Enabler to Circular Economy and Sustainable Maritime.” India’s environmentally sound ship dismantling industry has become a global model for sustainable maritime practices. This aligns with India’s broader circular economy strategy, especially in the maritime sector, which now also includes green fuel bunkering, low-emission corridors, and decarbonisation infrastructure.
🧑✈️ Seafarer Workforce and International Recruitment
Shri Sonowal highlighted India’s status as the second-largest provider of maritime workforce for Norwegian-owned vessels. In a strong pitch for deeper ties, he called for expanding recruitment partnerships between Indian and Norwegian agencies, offering India’s skilled and adaptable workforce as a dependable resource for global shipping lines.
“India stands ready—as a reliable, responsible, and forward-looking maritime partner. We are committed to shaping a maritime future that is green, secure, efficient, and inclusive,” he affirmed.
💰 Maritime Financing and Investment Facilitation
Discussions on investment models spotlighted the Maritime Development Fund, a proposed blended finance model designed to leverage public funding to catalyse private investment. India shared insights on innovative risk-sharing frameworks, capital unlocking strategies, and institutional support mechanisms aimed at mobilising long-term capital into maritime development and port-led infrastructure projects.
👥 Global Delegation and Participation
The India@Nor-Shipping event saw wide-ranging participation from dignitaries and maritime leaders, including:
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Helene Tofte – Norwegian Shipowners’ Association
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Tone Knudsen Fiskeseth – Maritime strategist
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Sveinung Oftedal – Special Director, Norway’s Ministry of Climate & Environment
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Padmanabhan Rukumini Hari – CMD, Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE)
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Rear Admiral G.K. Harish (Retd) – VP, L&T
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Vivek Merchant – Director, Swan Defence
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Annette Holte – President, Kongsberg Maritime India
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Uday Chaitanya – Country Manager, DNV
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Tarun Gulati – CEO, eShipfinance
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Pradip P. – CEO, Maharashtra Maritime Board
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Rajeev Nayyer – Advisor, Swan Defence
Their presence underscored a growing confidence in India’s evolving maritime policy and partnership agenda.
🧭 Conclusion: A Maritime Vision with Global Anchors
India’s proactive showcase at Nor-Shipping 2025 cements its growing strategic role in the global maritime landscape. With a $20 billion investment roadmap, a clear vision for green technology, a resilient policy architecture, and a willingness to collaborate, India is well-positioned to drive and influence the global maritime discourse. As it accelerates efforts toward becoming a top 5 shipbuilding nation by 2047, India’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, inclusivity, and strategic alliances makes it a force to reckon with in the future of global maritime trade and logistics.
For more details, check press release on PIB website.
