French shipping giant CMA CGM is holding advanced-level talks with Indian shipyards to build LNG-powered container ships. This is part of the company’s larger plan to grow its presence in India’s maritime sector. Along with shipbuilding, the company is also investing in port and inland infrastructure projects, including a $200 million expansion at the Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal and involvement in the upcoming Vadhavan Port project.
CMA CGM is actively expanding its operations in India across shipping, container terminals, shipbuilding, multimodal logistics, and maritime industrial growth. It has launched two Indian-flagged vessels, CC Vitoria and CC Manaus, and has created a new Indian shipping company at GIFT City in Gujarat. Last week, India’s Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, T.K. Ramachandran, visited CMA CGM’s global headquarters in Marseille, France. His visit followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official trip to France in February, during which he met with CMA CGM officials. Modi’s recent visit to France (10–12 February 2025) was his sixth and came shortly after President Macron visited India in January 2024 as the chief guest for the 75th Republic Day celebrations.
During their meetings, both leaders spoke about India’s maritime potential and ongoing global partnerships, especially under the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), which was announced at the G20 summit in Delhi in September 2023. They agreed to work together more closely to implement IMEC. During the June 12 visit to Marseille, CMA CGM’s top leadership updated the Indian delegation on the progress made since Modi’s February visit.
They shared that the company’s India expansion plan is built on five key pillars: collaborating on shipbuilding, expanding the Indian-flagged fleet, improving inland logistics, promoting innovation, and increasing maritime industrial investment. CMA CGM also shared its interest in India’s ship recycling industry, particularly in Alang, and said it is ready to source containers and green steel from Indian manufacturers to support its global sustainability goals. Currently, the company employs more than 2,200 digital professionals in India. It is also considering setting up maritime research and innovation hubs in major Indian cities to support future development and innovation in shipping.
