Prime Minister Narendra Modi will participate in the upcoming India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai from October 27–31 and deliver the keynote address at the Global Maritime CEO Forum, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, announced on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Water Voyage Northeast 2025 conference in Guwahati, Sonowal described the event as a historic opportunity to showcase India’s maritime strength, with participation expected from over 100 countries and more than 100,000 stakeholders. The Minister said the Prime Minister’s presence would reaffirm India’s leadership in global maritime affairs during a period of unprecedented sectoral transformation.
“India Maritime Week will not only be a confluence of ideas, but a confluence of confidence,” Sonowal said. He added that under PM Modi’s guidance, India is now seen as a trusted partner and a rising maritime power. The Minister highlighted that the Global Maritime CEO Forum will inspire global industry leaders to invest in India’s maritime growth story.
Focusing on Northeast development, Sonowal revealed that two luxury cruise ships are being constructed at Hooghly Cochin Shipyard in Howrah, Kolkata, at a combined investment of ₹250 crore. These ships, set to launch in 2027, will enhance river tourism under the Cruise Bharat Mission on the Brahmaputra River.
The Minister underlined India’s maritime reforms since 2014, including flagship initiatives such as Sagarmala, Maritime India Vision 2030, and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. He noted that port capacity has nearly doubled, cargo handling reached 1,600 million metric tonnes, and turnaround time at ports has dropped to 22 hours. Inland waterway cargo movement has surged from 18 million tonnes in 2013–14 to 145 million tonnes last year.
Green initiatives, including the Harit Sagar Policy and Harit Nauka program, promote clean fuels, renewable energy, and eco-friendly inland vessels. The Jalvahak Scheme, launched in December 2024, provides up to 35% reimbursement on operating expenditure for cargo transported over 300 km on National Waterways 1, 2, and 16 via the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol route.
Sonowal emphasized the Northeast’s central role, noting over ₹1,000 crore invested in inland waterway infrastructure. Projects include a ₹239 crore ship repair facility at Pandu, a ₹180 crore approach road linking NH-27 to Pandu Port, and ₹299 crore investment in new tourist jetties at Guijan, Neamati, Bishwanath Ghat, and Silghat. A ₹188 crore Regional Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh will train 5,000 maritime professionals.
The Cruise Bharat Mission, launched in 2024, aims to develop 100 river cruise terminals, 10 sea cruise terminals, and five marinas, doubling passenger numbers by 2029. Currently, 25 river cruise vessels operate on national waterways, 14 on the Brahmaputra. Forbes recently ranked the Ganga river cruise among the world’s top 10, positioning Assam as a future global river cruise destination.
India Maritime Week 2025 is expected to unveil investment opportunities worth nearly ₹1 trillion across shipbuilding, port-led connectivity, coastal community development, and eco-friendly logistics. Sonowal highlighted India’s ambitious goal of handling 10,000 MMT of EXIM cargo and 500 MMT through inland waterways by 2047, becoming one of the top five shipbuilding nations globally.