India Invests $20 Billion in Maritime Infrastructure at Nor-Shipping 2025, Emphasizing Green and Digital Solutions, ET Government

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal during the India@Nor-Shipping session in OsloOSLO: India reaffirmed its global maritime ambitions with a USD 20 billion commitment toward enhancing multimodal logistics, port connectivity, and trade facilitation, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced during the India@Nor-Shipping session in Oslo. Highlighting the country’s robust maritime transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat, Sonowal projected India as a sustainable, secure, and tech-driven maritime leader.

“India is moving decisively to become a globally engaged maritime economy. Through policy reforms, digital integration, and strategic corridors like IMEEC and INSTC, we are laying the foundation for India to emerge among the top five shipbuilding nations by 2047,” said Sonowal.

The Minister spotlighted India’s investment in three upcoming Green Hydrogen Hub Ports—Kandla, Tuticorin, and Paradip—as part of a larger port-led decarbonisation strategy. These will enable green fuel production and bunkering capabilities, in alignment with IMO’s Green Voyage 2050 goals.

India also showcased its maritime digital ecosystem, featuring platforms like ONOP (One Nation – One Port Process), National Logistics Portal (Marine), and MAITRI – Virtual Trade Corridor, which streamline EXIM trade and port operations using real-time data and AI-powered systems.

“These tech platforms are reducing transaction times, improving transparency, and enabling digitally connected ports—creating a unified digital maritime interface,” Sonowal said.

India’s shipbuilding capabilities were presented under the theme “India: The Resurgent Shipbuilding Destination,” emphasizing scalable capacity, global collaborations, and a green transition backed by policy support and financing innovation.

On the manpower front, India, already the second-largest supplier of seafarers to Norwegian ships, sought deeper partnerships for maritime workforce recruitment. India also presented its HKC-compliant ship recycling ecosystem as a global benchmark for circular economy efforts.

Discussions also focused on innovative financing models, including the proposed Maritime Development Fund, which aims to attract private investment through a blended finance approach and institutional risk-sharing frameworks.

Attended by global maritime leaders and technocrats, the India@Nor-Shipping sessions reinforced India’s positioning as a responsible and future-ready maritime partner, committed to green growth, digital transformation, and global collaboration.

• Published On Jun 6, 2025 at 04:37 PM IST

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