India’s maritime sector will play a pivotal role in driving the country’s economic expansion and global competitiveness over the coming decades, Director General of Shipping (DG Shipping) Shyam Jagannathan said on Friday, highlighting the strategic importance of the maritime domain under the government’s development vision.
Addressing delegates at COMARSEM 2026, a major maritime industry conference, Jagannathan said the maritime sector — which handles the vast majority of India’s international trade — is central to national prosperity, logistics efficiency and emerging opportunities in shipbuilding, green shipping, ports infrastructure and blue economy services.
Maritime Sector as an Economic Engine
“India’s maritime domain will be a central pillar of the country’s economic expansion and global competitiveness under the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision,” Jagannathan said, underscoring efforts to integrate maritime services, shipbuilding, ports and allied industries into the broader growth strategy.
Industry data show that over 90 % of India’s trade by volume moves through sea routes, emphasizing how the maritime ecosystem — from merchant shipping to logistics and coastal trade — underpins the nation’s trade and supply chain systems.
Blue Economy and Strategic Growth
The DG highlighted that India aims to strengthen its Blue Economy footprint by boosting shipbuilding capacity, expanding green shipping initiatives, and elevating port and maritime services infrastructure. These efforts are part of larger policy frameworks such as Maritime India Vision 2030 and long-term goals aligned with Vision 2047.
Focused investment and regulatory reforms are expected to position India as a hub for shipbuilding and repair, support increased maritime trade volumes, and improve connectivity through multimodal logistics — benefiting exporters, importers and domestic industry alike.
Global Integration and Competitiveness
Officials said India’s expanding maritime capabilities — including increased cargo handling, improved port turnaround times and rising ship registry confidence — bolster its appeal as a partner in global shipping and logistics networks. Investments pledged by international operators and collaborations with foreign partners reflect this growing confidence.
With the maritime domain deeply linked to export growth, energy imports, coastal development and national security, policymakers describe the sector as both an economic and strategic asset in India’s development trajectory.
