The India Maritime Week 2025, held at NESCO Grounds in Mumbai from October 27 to 31, has emerged as a watershed moment for the nation’s maritime ambitions. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari unveiled a groundbreaking proposal for innovative financial mechanisms to accelerate shipbuilding capacity, directly linking these efforts to India’s aspiration of achieving top-five maritime nation status by 2047. The five-day event, inaugurated by Home Minister Amit Shah, brought together over 350 international speakers, delegates from more than 100 countries, and industry leaders to chart a transformative course for India’s maritime sector.
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During his address at the India Maritime Week 2025, Gadkari emphasised that the maritime sector, valued at approximately USD 1 trillion (₹84 lakh crore), represents an enormous opportunity for investment across ports, shipping, and logistics infrastructure. His call for revolutionary financing models stems from successful precedents established in highway development, where the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways mobilised ₹1.4 lakh crore through Transfer of Title (ToT), Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) arrangements.
Innovative Shipbuilding Financing Framework
The cornerstone of discussions at the India Maritime Week 2025 centred on creating investor-friendly financial instruments specifically tailored for shipbuilding and maritime infrastructure development. Gadkari articulated the urgent need for creative funding strategies that could attract both domestic and international capital while ensuring sustainable returns. The minister drew parallels with the road transport sector, where private participation increased dramatically from 10 per cent to 35 per cent through innovative funding mechanisms, demonstrating the potential for a similar transformation in maritime infrastructure.
The proposed financing models focus on transparent governance, time-bound execution, and private sector innovation to reduce the financial burden on government coffers while accelerating project delivery. These mechanisms aim to build enduring global confidence in India’s maritime leadership and competitiveness. Foreign investors have shown keen interest in India’s maritime opportunities, particularly given the strong return on investment potential, though Gadkari stressed that credibility remains paramount for attracting international finance, including investments in stronger currencies like the Japanese yen.
Port-Hinterland Connectivity: The ₹80,000 Crore Game-Changer
A critical announcement made during the India Maritime Week 2025 concerned the massive ₹80,000 crore investment in port-hinterland connectivity infrastructure. Gadkari revealed that approximately 60 to 70 per cent of this ambitious road connectivity program linking ports to their hinterlands has already been completed. This infrastructure development represents a fundamental pillar for enhancing India’s export-import capabilities and overall economic competitiveness.
The minister expressed confidence that these connectivity improvements would revolutionise the Indian economy by dramatically reducing transportation time and costs for goods moving between ports and inland destinations. The port connectivity initiative forms an integral component of the broader Sagarmala 2.0 vision, which encompasses shipbuilding, ship repair and recycling, port efficiency enhancement, coastal economy strengthening, and inland waterways revival as sustainable transport corridors.
Addressing Logistics Cost Challenges
One of the most significant economic challenges highlighted at the India Maritime Week 2025 was India’s logistics cost burden, which currently stands at approximately 16 per cent of GDP. Gadkari acknowledged this substantial figure while noting progress made through recent infrastructure investments. According to joint studies conducted by IIT Chennai, IIT Kanpur, and IIM Bangalore, logistics costs have already decreased to 10 per cent of GDP, representing a remarkable 1 per cent reduction from previous levels.
The minister set an ambitious target to reduce logistics costs to single digits—specifically, cent off GDP—by December 2025, which would significantly enhance the competitiveness of Indian industries and exports. For comparative context, logistics costs hover around 12 per cent in the United States and Europe, and between 8 to 10 per cent in China. The reduction strategy encompasses massive investments in expressways, economic corridors, digital infrastructure, including FASTag and fully digital tolling systems, all of which contribute to cutting travel time, reducing fuel consumption, and streamlining freight movement.
Sagarmala 2.0 and Comprehensive Maritime Development
Sagarmala 2.0 and Comprehensive Maritime DevelopmentThe India Maritime Week 2025 served as a platform to showcase progress under the Sagarmala 2.0 initiative championed by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal. This comprehensive program aims to position India among the world’s top five shipbuilding nations by 2047, marking a defining moment for the country’s blue economy and maritime future. The initiative encompasses multiple dimensions, including modernisation of shipyards, enhancement of ship repair capabilities, recycling infrastructure development, and optimisation of port operations.
Sonowal emphasised that India’s goal extends beyond infrastructure development to tripling the nation’s global trade share by 2047 through policy reforms, digitalisation initiatives, and capacity expansion. The event witnessed the signing of over 600 Memorandums of Understanding valued at more than ₹10 lakh crore in investment commitments, with Day 1 alone securing landmark MoUs worth ₹55,000 crore. These partnerships focus on port expansion, shipyard infrastructure, skill development programs, and green shipbuilding initiatives involving domestic companies and international partners from Norway, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, and other nations.
India Maritime Report 2025-26 Launch
A significant highlight of the India Maritime Week 2025 was the launch of the CMEG (RIS) – India Maritime Report 2025-26, titled “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision: India’s Maritime Strides.” This comprehensive document outlines India’s recent achievements in maritime development and provides a detailed roadmap for becoming a global leader in the blue economy. The report emphasises the importance of private innovation, transparent governance frameworks, and time-bound project execution as key drivers for establishing India as a trusted global maritime hub.
The report’s release underscores the government’s commitment to systematic planning and measurable outcomes in the maritime sector. It provides stakeholders with clear benchmarks and strategic priorities aligned with India’s 2047 vision, ensuring coordinated efforts across government agencies, private sector entities, and international partners.
Economic Impact and Investment Potential
The economic implications discussed at the India Maritime Week 2025 extend far beyond the maritime sector itself. With India’s maritime economy valued at nearly USD 1 trillion, the sector presents vast opportunities across multiple dimensions, including port infrastructure development, shipping fleet expansion, logistics optimisation, shipbuilding capacity enhancement, and coastal economy strengthening. The comprehensive exhibition featuring over 400 exhibitors alongside an expansive conference schedule demonstrated the breadth of business opportunities available.
The event’s structure included four country-specific sessions featuring Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden, along with 11 state and union territory sessions covering Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and Andaman & Nicobar Islands. This multi-stakeholder approach ensures that maritime development benefits are distributed across India’s coastline while leveraging regional strengths and capabilities.
Strategic Vision for 2047
Strategic Vision for 2047The India Maritime Week 2025 culminated in reinforcing India’s ambitious vision to achieve top-five maritime nation status by 2047, coinciding with the centenary of Indian independence. This goal encompasses multiple parameters, including shipbuilding capacity, cargo handling volumes, port efficiency metrics, coastal shipping growth, and global trade share. Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised India’s strategic maritime position, democratic stability, and naval capabilities as instrumental factors in bridging the Indo-Pacific region with the Global South, promoting security, connectivity, and sustainable development.
The maritime sector has demonstrated robust growth indicators, with coastal shipping increasing by 118 per cent and cargo handling growing by 150 per cent over the past decade. Turnaround times at Indian ports are being reduced to match global standards through efficiency improvements and digitalisation initiatives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled address during a special plenary session and his chairmanship of a high-level global CEO forum further underscore the government’s commitment to maritime sector transformation.
Conclusion
The India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai has established a comprehensive framework for revolutionising India’s maritime sector through innovative financing mechanisms, substantial infrastructure investments, and strategic policy initiatives. Nitin Gadkari’s proposal for shipbuilding financing models, combined with the ₹80,000 crore port-hinterland connectivity investment and focused efforts to reduce logistics costs from 16 per cent of GDP, demonstrates a holistic approach to maritime development. With over ₹10 lakh crore in investment commitments and clear pathways outlined through Sagarmala 2.0, India is poised to realise its ambition of becoming a top-five maritime nation by 2047, transforming its blue economy and global trade competitiveness.
