India to Host Shipbuilding Investment Conclave in New Delhi This Month
India will host the India Shipbuilding Investment Conclave 2026 in New Delhi, the national capital, on 16 and 17 November. The event is being organised under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Union Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced it and said he had reviewed the preparations with senior officials.
The minister said India aims to become one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations. The conclave is meant to turn global interest into real projects, such as investment partnerships, technology tie-ups and new greenfield shipyards. It is aimed at international shipbuilders, equipment makers (OEMs), maritime technology firms and investors.
Five proposed shipbuilding clusters will be presented as ready for investment. They are in Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha and Tamil Nadu, covering both the east and west coasts of India.
The first day will include senior-level sessions, a showcase of the clusters, a roundtable and panel discussions on engines, marine systems and skills, along with one-to-one business meetings. A closed-door Global Shipbuilding Investment Dialogue will discuss demand, policy, incentives and financing. On the second day, delegates will visit one of the clusters of their choice.
The conclave follows recent steps to grow the sector, including large shipbuilding cluster plans by Indian shipyards. A bigger shipbuilding industry could bring more ships under Indian control and more skilled jobs along the coast.
For Indian seafarers, growth in local shipbuilding can mean more Indian-built and Indian-owned ships, new roles in sea trials, delivery voyages and shipyard supervision, and wider shore-based career options for experienced engineers and officers.
