India Maritime Week 2025 Attracts Rs 12 Lakh Crore Investment Pledges

At the recently concluded India Maritime Week 2025, a significant commitment of investment worth Rs 12 lakh crore was sealed, with a notable 20% of this being allocated towards shipbuilding, union ports, shipping, and waterways minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced. This development aligns with India's ambitious goal to rank among the top five shipbuilding nations by 2047. The minister highlighted the importance of shipping in the country's foreign trade, which handles nearly 90% of India's export-import cargo by volume and approximately 70% by value. This underscores the critical role maritime transport plays in sustaining the country's trade flows, linking its ports to global supply chains, and facilitating the movement of goods.

Key Takeaways:

• A total of Rs 12 lakh crore worth of investment pledges were signed at India Maritime Week 2025.
• Approximately 20% of the total investment value, or Rs 2.4 lakh crore, is focused on shipbuilding and associated sectors.
• The investments are aligned with India's goal to rank among the top five shipbuilding nations by 2047.
• Shipping plays a crucial role in India's foreign trade, with nearly 90% of export-import cargo by volume and about 70% by value.
• The MoUs signed cover a wide spectrum of collaborations including port development, sustainability, shipbuilding, port-led industrialisation, and trade facilitation.
• 30% of the total investment value is directed towards port development and modernisation, while 20% is allocated for sustainability, shipping and shipbuilding, port-led industrialisation, and trade and business knowledge partnerships respectively.
• DP World announced $5-billion investments during the week, focused on green coastal and short-sea shipping, and an international ship repair facility in Kochi.
• Cochin Shipyard signed eight agreements, including with CMA CGM for LNG dual-fuel vessels and the Dredging Corporation of India for dredgers.

Statistics:

• Total investment pledges: Rs 12 lakh crore
• Allocation for shipbuilding and associated sectors: approximately Rs 2.4 lakh crore (20% of total)
• India's goal: rank among top five shipbuilding nations by 2047
• Percentage of export-import cargo handled by shipping: 90% (by volume), 70% (by value)
• Percentage of ports targeting sustainability: 20%
• Investment of DP World: $5 billion

Sources:

• [1] 'India Maritime Week 2025: Investment pledges worth Rs 12 lakh crore signed' (Source: News Article)
• [2] 'India aims to rank among top 5 shipbuilding nations by 2047' (Source: News Article)
• [3] 'Shipping serves as backbone of India's foreign trade' (Source: News Article)
• [4] 'DP World to invest $5 billion in India's green shipping sector' (Source: News Article)
• [5] 'Cochin Shipyard signs 8 MoUs, including with CMA CGM and DCI' (Source: News Article)