The inaugural edition of Sagarmanthan: The Ocean’s Dialogue, South Asia’s largest maritime thought leadership event, began in New Delhi on Monday.
Praising the event as “a proud step towards a sustainable maritime future,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasised the importance of building global consensus for a prosperous future.
In his message, PM Modi said, “Our vision for a free, open and secure maritime network – be it the Indian Ocean or the Indo Pacific region – is finding resonance across the world. The ‘Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative’ envisions marine resources as a key pillar for growth for nations. This dialogue on oceans further strengthen the rules-based world order and enhance peace, trust and friendship between nations.”
He added: “As we strive to realise the vision of a Viksit Bharat by 2047, dialogues such as Sagarmanthan are invaluable to build consensus, partnerships and most importantly, a prosperous future. With the collective efforts of all stakeholders, I am confident that these discussions will resonate far and wide, paving the way toward a brighter, more connected future.”
PM Modi also highlighted India’s deep maritime heritage like the ancient port cities of Lothal and Dholavira, the naval power of the Chola dynasty, and the maritime legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
Underlining the central role of oceans in both international trade and security, PM Modi highlighted that, over the past decade, India has made significant strides in strengthening its maritime capabilities. The country has doubled port capacity and improved infrastructure through initiatives like Ports of Prosperity, which have enhanced logistics across expressways, railways, and riverine networks.
Sagarmanthan is a two-day event organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) in collaboration with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF).
The inaugural session featured addresses from Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal; Greece’s Minister of Maritime Affairs and Insular Policy Christos Stylianides; Maldives’ Minister of State for Fisheries and Ocean Resources Dr. Amzath Ahmed; National Representative of the Province of Rio Negro, Argentina Maria Lorena Villaverde; MoPSW Secretary TK Ramachandran; and ORF President Samir Saran. The event was attended by representatives from 61 countries and hundreds of delegates from the global maritime sector.
“The initiative brings together global policymakers, maritime experts, industry leaders, and scholars to deliberate on advancing sustainable and innovative maritime practices,” read a statement by the PSW ministry.
Addressing the inaugural session, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said, “India’s Maritime Vision 2047 is a roadmap to transform the maritime sector by fostering sustainability, enhancing connectivity, and leveraging technology. Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi our ministry through initiatives like Sagarmala and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision is aiming at making India a leader in global maritime trade, achieving our goal of Viksit Bharat by 2047.”
“By 2047, India targets a port handling capacity of 10,000 million metric tons per annum, leveraging strategic trade routes through initiatives like the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) and the International North-South Transport Corridor. Reviving its shipbuilding legacy, India is constructing the National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal while advancing clean-fuel shipbuilding to meet future sustainability goals,” Sonowal added.