Andhra Pradesh is poised to emerge as a globally competitive maritime and logistics hub, with major investments planned in port infrastructure, shipbuilding and ship repair, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said at the 31st CII Partnership Summit 2026 in Visakhapatnam.
Addressing the summit on Thursday, Sonowal highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s strategic advantages, including its 1,053-km coastline along the Bay of Bengal, access to major international shipping routes and proximity to key Asian manufacturing and trading economies. He said these strengths position the state to become India’s principal maritime gateway to ASEAN, East Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region.
“If Hyderabad became Cyberabad, Andhra Pradesh today has the opportunity to become India’s Maritime Gateway to the East,” Sonowal said, highlighting the state’s potential to drive India’s maritime growth.
He said the Centre would work closely with the Andhra Pradesh government, industry stakeholders and international investors to accelerate maritime infrastructure development.
Highlighting recent developments, Sonowal pointed to the foundation stone laid on Wednesday for projects worth more than ₹560 crore at Visakhapatnam Port. The projects are aimed at augmenting port capacity, improving operational efficiency, enhancing ease of doing business and generating employment opportunities.
Andhra Pradesh’s port infrastructure is also set for significant expansion through four greenfield port projects under construction at Mulapeta, Machilipatnam, Ramayapatnam and Kakinada SEZ. These projects are expected to strengthen cargo-handling capacity and support the state’s industrial and export growth.
₹30,000-Crore Shipbuilding Cluster Planned at Dugarajapatnam
Identifying shipbuilding and ship repair as major growth opportunities, Sonowal highlighted the proposed greenfield shipbuilding cluster at Dugarajapatnam. The project has received in-principle approval under the National Shipbuilding Mission and envisages an investment of approximately ₹30,000 crore, with a targeted annual capacity of 1.2 million gross tonnes.
A Centre-State special purpose vehicle involving the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board and Visakhapatnam Port Authority has been formed to take the project forward.
The minister invited global shipbuilders, maritime technology companies, equipment manufacturers and international investors to explore investment opportunities in Andhra Pradesh.
He said the Centre had allocated ₹70,000 crore in financing support for shipbuilding and other maritime activities as part of its ambition to make India one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations.
National Maritime Investments and Policy Initiatives
Sonowal said initiatives such as Sagarmala, Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 were laying the foundation for India’s transformation into a globally competitive maritime economy, with an envisaged investment of ₹80 lakh crore.
He also highlighted the ₹10,000-crore Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme aimed at strengthening domestic container production and the proposed ₹10,000-crore Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme to encourage coastal shipping and utilise India’s 12,000-km coastline.
The ₹80,000-crore deep-draft, all-weather mega container port at Vadhavan in Maharashtra was cited as another major initiative to strengthen India’s maritime infrastructure.
According to the minister, the four Global Maritime Investment Summits held under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi have attracted investment commitments of approximately ₹25 lakh crore in India’s maritime sector.
Focus on Smart Ports and Digital Transformation
Emphasising technology-driven port development, Sonowal said artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, automation and digital logistics platforms would play a critical role in improving port efficiency and global competitiveness.
He said Andhra Pradesh had the opportunity to become a leader in developing smart ports and integrated maritime logistics infrastructure.
The minister outlined three major ambitions for the state: becoming a leading destination for port-led development, emerging as a globally competitive shipbuilding and ship repair hub, and positioning itself as India’s eastern maritime gateway to ASEAN, East Asia and the Indo-Pacific.
Visakhapatnam Port Records 91.17 Million Tonnes
Andhra Pradesh already has an established maritime presence through Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram and Krishnapatnam ports.
Visakhapatnam Port handled a record 91.17 million tonnes of cargo in FY 2025-26, registering approximately 10% growth over the previous financial year. The port has maintained a continuous growth trajectory for four consecutive years since FY 2021-22.
The 31st CII Partnership Summit 2026 is being held in Visakhapatnam on November 12-13 under the theme “Navigating the New World Order: Trade | Technology | Trust | Thought Leadership.” The summit brings together government leaders, industry representatives and international participants to explore opportunities in trade, investment, technology and global partnerships.