As part of a multi-pronged expansion strategy, IPGL—India’s state-backed port operator—has renewed its commitment to the Chabahar Port in Iran while simultaneously exploring new port development and berth management ventures across the African coastline, starting with Tanzania. This signals a decisive move by New Delhi to project maritime influence along key international trade corridors, offering a counterweight to China’s Belt and Road-linked port investments across Asia and Africa. With the support of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, IPGL is actively recruiting leadership talent to manage container and multipurpose terminals in Iran, where its flagship overseas project—the Shahid Beheshti terminal at Chabahar—has shown marked progress in recent months.
Figures released by the Ministry show container volumes at Chabahar have risen dramatically from 9,126 TEUs in FY23 to 64,245 TEUs by January FY25, and are projected to touch 75,000 TEUs this financial year. Future projections suggest a fivefold capacity jump to 500,000 TEUs by 2035, underpinned by a ₹4,000 crore capital expenditure plan that includes additional mobile harbour cranes and a potential second berth. Beyond West Asia, Africa is fast emerging as the next theatre for India’s maritime diplomacy. Tanzania—where India has signed multiple Memorandums of Understanding for maritime, port, and industrial development—is the first in a series of countries being considered for strategic port partnerships. The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority is already engaged in developing a Special Economic Zone in Tanzania, in line with India’s larger blueprint to strengthen bilateral trade infrastructure and establish long-term port and industrial linkages.
Complementing these developments is the growing footprint of Indian private players such as Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, which already operates Dar es Salaam’s Terminal 2 under a 30-year concession. Alongside international partnerships, including joint ventures with the UAE’s AD Ports Group, Indian maritime operators are consolidating their stake in Africa’s east coast logistics. India’s renewed commitment to overseas port development is not limited to commercial cargo throughput. At Sittwe Port in Myanmar and Kankesanthurai in northern Sri Lanka, IPGL is facilitating both passenger ferry services and freight operations, offering a direct boost to regional integration under India’s Act East policy.
At the core of this expansion is the newly established state-backed consortium, Bharat Global Ports, envisioned as a full-spectrum provider of maritime solutions including terminal operations, financing, and multimodal connectivity. IPGL will serve as its operational arm, effectively positioning India as a competitive maritime player across transcontinental routes from Europe to Southeast Asia. While the viability of some operations—particularly in geopolitically sensitive regions—remains under scrutiny, officials close to the developments insist that sustained marketing, capex investment, and government support will ensure commercial success over the long term.
By deepening its global port infrastructure presence, India not only strengthens its trade footprint but also makes a calibrated leap towards resilient, future-ready maritime connectivity. For a country whose economic growth is increasingly reliant on seamless logistics and diversified trade routes, such investments represent both a strategic necessity and a diplomatic advantage in the evolving global maritime order.
