India is set to shine on the global maritime stage with big plans and exciting developments. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the upcoming ‘India Maritime Week’ in Mumbai from October 27 to 31. During this event, the Prime Minister will deliver the keynote speech at the Global Maritime CEO Forum, highlighting India’s growing strength in the maritime sector.
The India Maritime Week 2025 is expected to attract over 100 countries and more than 100,000 industry stakeholders. It’s seen as a historic opportunity for India to showcase its maritime capabilities to the world. Sonowal emphasized that the event aims to boost global confidence in India’s maritime infrastructure and inspire international investments. He also mentioned that the event will reveal investment opportunities worth nearly Rs 1 lakh crore, including projects in shipbuilding, port connectivity, coastal community development, and eco-friendly logistics.
Big changes are happening in India’s maritime industry. Sonowal shared that two luxury cruise ships are being built on the Brahmaputra River, with a combined investment of Rs 250 crore. These ships are being constructed at the Hooghly Cochin Shipyard in Howrah and are expected to launch in 2027. This initiative will add a new dimension to Assam’s river tourism through the Cruise Bharat Mission, boosting tourism in the region.
India’s maritime growth has been remarkable since 2014, thanks to leadership from Prime Minister Modi. Key projects like Sagarmala, Maritime India Vision 2030, and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 are transforming ports, shipping, and inland waterways. Ports have nearly doubled their capacity, cargo handling now reaches 1,600 million metric tonnes, and port turnaround times have decreased to just 22 hours.
Inland waterways are also booming. Since 2014, India has increased operational waterways from 5 to 30. Cargo movement on inland waterways jumped from 18 million tonnes in 2013-14 to a massive 145 million tonnes last year. The government is also focusing on eco-friendly shipping, with policies promoting clean fuels and renewable energy. The Jalvahak Scheme, launched in December 2024, offers up to 35% reimbursement for cargo transport along key waterways, encouraging greener and more efficient transportation.
The Northeast region plays a key role in India’s maritime future. Over Rs 1,000 crore has been invested in its inland waterway infrastructure, with most projects nearing completion. The Cruise Bharat Mission aims to develop 100 river cruise terminals, 10 sea cruise terminals, and five marinas, aiming to double the number of passengers by 2029. Currently, 25 river cruise vessels operate on India’s waterways, including 14 on the Brahmaputra. Notably, Forbes recently ranked the Ganga river cruise among the top 10 worldwide, and Assam is quickly emerging as a top river cruise hotspot.
Sonowal expressed confidence that these efforts mark the beginning of a maritime resurgence for India. By 2047, India aims to handle 10,000 million metric tonnes of export-import cargo and 500 million tonnes through inland waterways. India also aims to be among the top five shipbuilding nations globally and to hold a 20% share in the world’s ship recycling industry. This exciting vision is part of India’s ‘Amrit Kaal,’ or golden era of maritime growth.
This is truly a new chapter for India’s maritime industry, with big dreams and an ambitious roadmap to become a major player in global shipping, cruise tourism, and port infrastructure. The future looks bright for India’s oceans, rivers, and coastal regions.
