Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed global maritime leaders in Mumbai, showcasing India’s rapid progress in the shipping sector and unveiling major reforms and investments to strengthen India’s position as a global maritime hub.
Mumbai, 29th November 2025 —Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Maritime Leaders Conclave and chaired the Global Maritime CEO Forum at India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. The Prime Minister highlighted India’s remarkable progress in the maritime sector, major reforms, and record-breaking achievements in ports, shipping, and shipbuilding.
Welcoming participants from over 85 countries, PM Modi said that the conclave, which began in 2016, has now evolved into a major global summit. He noted the participation of CEOs from leading shipping companies, policymakers, innovators, and representatives from small island nations, calling their presence a reflection of global confidence in India’s maritime growth.
The Prime Minister announced that several significant projects and Memorandums of Understanding worth lakhs of crores were launched at the conclave, underlining international trust in India’s maritime potential. He stated, “In the 21st century, India’s maritime sector is advancing with great speed and energy.”
PM Modi cited major milestones such as the operationalization of Vizhinjam Port—India’s first deep-water international trans-shipment hub—and the record cargo handled by Indian ports in 2024–25. He highlighted new green initiatives, including the first indigenous megawatt-scale green hydrogen facility at Kandla Port and the expansion of Bharat Mumbai Container Terminal at JNPT, which has doubled capacity.
The Prime Minister announced landmark legal reforms, replacing colonial-era shipping laws with modern, futuristic legislation. The new Merchant Shipping Act and Coastal Shipping Act aim to simplify trade, enhance safety, and promote digitization. These steps, he said, strengthen India’s global maritime standing and make it easier to do business in the sector.
PM Modi shared key performance indicators, noting that India’s ports are now among the most efficient in the developing world, often outperforming those in developed nations. He cited reduced container dwell times and faster vessel turnaround times as evidence of efficiency. India’s seafarer strength, he added, has grown from 1.25 lakh to over 3 lakh in a decade, placing the country among the world’s top three in maritime manpower.
Highlighting the government’s focus on the Blue Economy and sustainable coastal development, PM Modi emphasized the importance of green logistics, port connectivity, and shipbuilding. He announced that shipbuilding has been granted infrastructure asset status, opening new financing avenues and reducing costs for shipbuilders. The government will invest ₹70,000 crore to enhance shipyard capacity, support new projects, and create employment.
The Prime Minister also announced a new mega port at Vadhavan, Maharashtra, to be developed at a cost of ₹76,000 crore, aimed at boosting India’s container cargo capacity. He invited global investors to expand their presence in India’s maritime sector, reaffirming that 100 percent FDI is permitted and that public-private partnerships are growing rapidly.
Drawing inspiration from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s maritime legacy, PM Modi said India continues to see the seas as gateways of opportunity. “When the global seas are rough, the world looks for a steady lighthouse — India is well poised to play that role with strength and stability,” he remarked.
Amid global uncertainties and shifting supply chains, the Prime Minister described India as a symbol of strategic autonomy, peace, and inclusive growth. He stressed that initiatives like the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor will redefine global trade routes and promote cleaner, smarter logistics.
PM Modi concluded by calling for global cooperation in ensuring sustainable maritime development, especially by supporting Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries through technology and training.
The event was attended by Maharashtra Governor Shri Acharya Devvrat, Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis, and Union Ministers Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Shri Shantanu Thakur, and Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, among other dignitaries.
Source: PMO
