Gujarat Chief Minister Mr. Bhupendra Patel on Monday highlighted the state’s rise as India’s maritime powerhouse under Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s visionary initiative, ‘Samudra se Samruddhi’ (Prosperity through the Sea). Speaking at the inauguration of India Maritime Week 2025, organised by the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Mr. Patel said Gujarat’s maritime ecosystem has become a national model for growth and innovation.
The event was inaugurated by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Mr. Amit Shah in the presence of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, and the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra, Goa, and Odisha. Addressing maritime leaders, innovators, and investors from more than 100 countries, Mr. Patel underscored Gujarat’s success in building an integrated ecosystem for both “chip and ship” manufacturing, reinforcing Prime Minister Modi’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India). He noted that Gujarat’s two-decade maritime journey has positioned it as the “Maritime Gateway of the Nation,” handling over 40 percent of India’s total cargo traffic.
Mr. Patel further pointed out that Gujarat leads the nation in LNG and LPG handling, with Dahej Port alone managing more than 80 percent of India’s LNG-LPG throughput. The state also dominates the ship recycling sector, contributing 98 percent of India’s total capacity through the world’s largest recycling yard at Alang, reaffirming its global maritime leadership.
Outlining Gujarat’s future roadmap, Mr. Patel announced plans to expand the combined capacity of its major and non-major ports to 3,000 million metric tonnes per annum (MMTPA) by 2047, in line with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. This ambitious target reflects Gujarat’s long-term commitment to sustainable maritime development, infrastructure enhancement, and large-scale employment generation.
He also highlighted the development of the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal as a living embodiment of Prime Minister Modi’s philosophy, “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” (Development with Heritage). The complex, he said, will preserve India’s maritime legacy while promoting tourism, education, and cultural awareness.
Emphasizing innovation, connectivity, and the blue economy, Mr. Patel said Gujarat continues to lead in port modernization, coastal connectivity improvements under the Sagarmala project, and coastal community upliftment. Today, Gujarat’s ports not only serve as gateways of trade but also as engines of industry, employment, and economic progress.
The inaugural session was attended by dignitaries including Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Goa Chief Minister Mr. Pramod Sawant, Odisha Chief Minister Mr. Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Minister of State Mr. Shantanu Thakur, and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Ministers Mr. Eknath Shinde and Mr. Ajit Pawar, reflecting a unified national commitment towards maritime excellence and economic transformation.
