Russia’s state-affiliated Delo Group is exploring major investments in India’s maritime sector, including developing terminals along inland waterways and key ports such as Mormugao in Goa, according to people aware of the discussions. A formal agreement is expected following President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India later this week.
An Indian delegation will soon travel to Moscow to finalize collaborations in shipbuilding, ship repair, ship breaking and port development. Delo officials visited India last month as part of a broader plan to expand Russia’s maritime footprint in the Indo-Pacific.
The group is also assessing the launch of a regular sea container service between Novorossiysk and Mormugao Port, which has not handled container operations for years. Partnerships are being considered for manufacturing barges, small vessels, catamarans and container flatcars to strengthen India’s inland waterway network.
Experts say Russia’s technical expertise could complement India’s ambitious waterways expansion, with the government targeting 76 operational waterways by 2027 and over 200 MTPA cargo movement by 2030.
The discussions follow wider efforts by New Delhi to attract global shipbuilders. India currently holds just 1% of the global shipbuilding market but aims to increase this to 5% by 2030 under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and become a top-five shipbuilding nation by 2047.
