Vows to Revive Shipbuilding Glory India’s Ports ‘More Efficient’ Than Developed World, PM Tells Global Conclave
MUMBAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday launched new initiatives worth 2.2 lakh crore rupees (approximately $26 billion) to bolster India’s maritime sector, telling a global gathering that the country is accelerating efforts to reach “new heights in shipbuilding.”
Addressing the Maritime Leaders Conclave in Mumbai, Mr. Modi heralded a transformative era for India’s ports, stating they are now among the most efficient in the developing world and are “in many aspects… performing even better than those in the developed world.”
The Prime Minister highlighted that Indian ports set a new record by handling the highest cargo ever this year, showcasing the sector’s robust growth. He underscored the urgency to expand in the shipping sector, declaring that the maritime industry is “driving India’s growth” and is “advancing with great speed and energy.”
The conclave served as a major platform for investment, with Mr. Modi noting that Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth lakhs of crores of rupees have been signed in the shipping sector, alongside the launch of several related projects. The presence of participants from 85 countries at the event, he remarked, symbolises their “common commitment” to India’s maritime vision.
Mr. Modi also pointed to India’s growing strength in maritime human resources. He stated that the number of Indian seafarers has more than doubled in the past decade, surging from 1.25 lakh to over three lakh (300,000). This growth, he stressed, places India among the top three countries globally in terms of seafarer numbers.
In a reference to the geopolitical climate, Prime Minister Modi asserted that amid “global tensions, trade disruptions and shifting supply chains,” India stands as a “symbol of strategic autonomy, peace and inclusive growth.”
The event was attended by Union Ministers Sarbananda Sonowal, Shantanu Thakur, and Kirti Vardhan Singh, along with Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.