India has unveiled a $1trn investment plan to drive growth across ports, shipping and logistics, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said at an ambassadors’ conclave in Delhi on Wednesday.
The roundtable, attended by representatives from 28 nations and industry stakeholders, was organised as a lead-up to India Maritime Week 2025, set for October 27-31 in Mumbai.
Sonowal said the roadmap targets port and cargo terminal development, multimodal transport hubs, shipbuilding, ship recycling and repairs, alongside investments in green hydrogen, bunkering and sustainable shipping.
“India’s maritime journey is entering a new chapter,” Sonowal told delegates. “These opportunities open up to $1 trillion in potential, with strong scope for global joint ventures.”
Presentations by ministry officials highlighted mega projects such as Vadhavan Port, Galathea Bay transhipment hub and the Tuna Tekra terminal, as well as opportunities in LNG bunkering, hydrogen hubs and maritime industrial parks.
The discussions also underscored India’s push to expand shipbuilding capacity and strengthen port-led development, while accelerating digitalisation in logistics. Envoys from countries including Japan, Sri Lanka, Malta, South Korea and Belarus flagged the potential of India’s blue economy and the need to speed up the shift to low-emission vessels.
The conclave marks a build-up to India Maritime Week, where government, industry and global partners are expected to outline investment and technology partnerships.
The roadmap arrives amid a wave of major maritime moves across India. APM Terminals recently inked a $1bn deal to modernise and operate three ports in Andhra Pradesh, signalling growing investor interest in India’s port infrastructure. Meanwhile, the Shipping Corp of India is preparing a $2.3bn newbuilding programme, with plans to order 26 domestically built vessels—adding 1.18m gt to its fleet and strengthening India’s shipbuilding ambitions.
Delighted to address the Ambassadors Roundtable in New Delhi ahead of the India Maritime Week 2025. Led by the vision of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi Ji, India’s maritime sector is surging ahead and unlocking $1 trillion investment opportunities in ports, shipbuilding, green… pic.twitter.com/GsXvPx65Vw
