Modi Highlights India’s Maritime Vision and Ocean Trade at Sagarmanthan Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized the importance of oceans as a shared heritage and lifeline for international trade during the inaugural edition of the thought leadership summit ‘Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue’. He highlighted the doubling of India’s port capacity over the last decade, achieved through enhancing port efficiency and strengthening last-mile connectivity. Modi stated that the country’s shoreline has been transformed, with transformative steps taken to bolster India’s maritime capabilities.

India’s rich maritime legacy was also discussed, with references to historical port cities like Lothal and Dholavira, and the fleets of the Chola dynasty. The Prime Minister outlined efforts to modernize and digitize the maritime sector, aiming to become a major shipbuilding nation by 2030 and one of the world’s top 5 by 2047. Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal expressed confidence in India’s ability to handle 10,000 million tonnes of cargo by 2047.

The two-day dialogue, which attracted over 1,700 participants from 60 countries, focused on strengthening the rules-based world order and enhancing peace, trust, and friendship between nations. Modi’s vision for a free, open, and secure maritime network in the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific region was highlighted. The ‘Indo Pacific Oceans Initiative’ aims to leverage marine resources for growth, aligning with the vision of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat. The summit concluded with a call to continue investing in India’s maritime sector for future growth and prosperity.

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