Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday highlighted an article written by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, which outlines how India’s growing industrial strength and maritime reforms are giving the nation a strategic edge along the busy east-west trade corridor.
Sharing the article on X (formerly Twitter), PM Modi said, “In this must-read article, Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal explains how a growing and resilient industrial base with ‘Make in India’ impetus and efforts to modernise, mechanise, and digitise ports along the busy east-west trade route have provided the country with a unique advantage. He highlights that the government’s $8 billion package to rejuvenate India’s shipbuilding and maritime ecosystem is not a routine budget line, but a signal of ambition.”
Earlier, Sonowal posted on X that the “$8 billion package to reimagine, revive and rejuvenate India’s shipbuilding and maritime ecosystem is not a routine budget line, but a signal of ambition,” adding that India is poised to lead the global shift toward green shipping.
In his article, the minister wrote that a “quiet revolution” is underway in global shipping as nations move swiftly toward decarbonisation. India, he said, stands at a “rare confluence of opportunity and capability” to lead this transition, supported by its low-cost renewable energy, robust industrial base, and skilled maritime workforce.
The recently approved ₹69,725 crore ($8 billion) maritime package aims to transform India’s shipbuilding and port ecosystem, positioning the country as a major player in the emerging green maritime economy. Sonowal said the initiative would help develop “green-ready” ports and establish India as a hub for green fuels under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM).
Deendayal Port Authority (Gujarat), V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority (Tamil Nadu), and Paradip Port Authority (Odisha) have already been identified as Green Hydrogen Hubs, with potential to serve as future centres for green fuel production and bunkering.
The minister also emphasised the creation of domestic and international green shipping corridors — including the Kandla-VOC route and links with Singapore and Rotterdam — to build demand for green fuels and attract fresh investments.
Sonowal noted that building a full-fledged green maritime ecosystem would not only advance environmental goals but also deliver economic and strategic benefits by boosting exports, creating skilled jobs, and ensuring India’s ports stay competitive in a low-carbon global economy.
He concluded by stating that India’s $8 billion maritime initiative reflects the government’s determination “not just to adapt to a changing world but to shape it.”