Mumbai, August 19, 2026: The Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) hosted a high-level “Stakeholder Meet | Ports and Shipyards Development in Gujarat” at Taj Santacruz, Mumbai, bringing together around 200 stakeholders from the maritime sector, including investors, port operators, shipbuilders, financial institutions, developers and industry leaders.
The event highlighted Gujarat’s ambitious roadmap to strengthen its position as a global maritime powerhouse and expand its port capacity to 3,000 MMTPA and beyond by 2047. The meet also reaffirmed the State’s commitment to attracting strategic investments and fostering industry partnerships across ports, shipbuilding, ship repair and marine manufacturing.
The event witnessed strong international participation, with representatives from more than 15 international organisations. The Consuls General of Indonesia, Italy and Norway, along with senior representatives from Singapore, the Port of Rotterdam and the Republic of Korea, participated in the programme. The international presence reflected growing global interest in Gujarat’s maritime ecosystem and its port-led development opportunities.
During the meet, GMB presented its roadmap for substantial capacity expansion through new greenfield ports, alongside investment opportunities in shipbuilding and marine manufacturing across strategic locations in Gujarat.
A key highlight was the presentation of Expression of Interest (EOI)-based investment opportunities, comprising six greenfield port projects and four shipbuilding yard opportunities, including the proposed Mega Shipbuilding Cluster at Kuchadi. The initiatives are aimed at encouraging private-sector participation and attracting long-term investments into Gujarat’s maritime and logistics ecosystem.
The inaugural session featured an address by Dr. Ajay Kumar, IAS, Vice Chairman & CEO, Gujarat Maritime Board, who outlined Gujarat’s maritime growth story and the next phase of expansion. Shri Hareet Shukla, IAS, Principal Secretary, Ports & Transport Department, Government of Gujarat, highlighted policy continuity, investor confidence and the State’s PPP-led maritime development model. Shri Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping, also addressed the gathering and highlighted the opportunities and potential emerging in the sector.
The first thematic session, “Investing in Gujarat’s Next Generation Ports,” focused on greenfield port opportunities, the shipbuilding ecosystem and associated infrastructure. Moderated by Shri Mihir G. Shah, Partner/Principal and National Leader (Transport), GPS, EY, the session featured industry leaders including Shri Shashi Kiran Shetty, Chairman, Allcargo Group; Shri Dhruv Kotak, Managing Director, JM Baxi Group; Shri Clint Carmichael, COO, Gujarat Pipavav Port Limited (APM Terminals); and Shri Jibu Kurien Itty, CEO – Ports & Terminals, Nava Sheva, DP World India.
The second thematic session, “Investing in Gujarat’s Emerging Shipbuilding & Marine Manufacturing Ecosystem,” focused on opportunities in shipbuilding and marine manufacturing. The panel comprised Shri Rajat Goyal, Principal Investment Officer – Maritime Investment Fund, SBI Ventures; Dr. Harikrishnan S, Director (Shipbuilding), Cochin Shipyard Limited; Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena (Retd.), CEO, Swan Defense and Heavy Industries Limited; and Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd.), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited, with Shri Mihir G. Shah serving as moderator.
The stakeholder meet also provided prospective investors and industry representatives an opportunity to engage in open-house discussions and share their views, suggestions and feedback on the EOI opportunities. The programme concluded with networking sessions and dedicated B2G and investor interaction meetings, enabling potential investors to seek further information and engage directly with GMB and other relevant stakeholders.
With a strong focus on greenfield port development, shipbuilding, ship repair and marine manufacturing, the Mumbai stakeholder meet underlined Gujarat’s ambition to emerge as a leading global maritime and logistics hub while creating new avenues for private investment and long-term industry partnerships.