India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 opened on a grand note on October 27 at the NESCO Grounds (Bombay Exhibition Centre), Mumbai, setting the stage for one of the world’s most significant maritime congregations. The five-day event, organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) in collaboration with the Indian Ports Association, runs until October 31 under the unifying theme — “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision.”
The inaugural ceremony was graced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who officially inaugurated the fourth edition of IMW by garlanding the bust of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, a symbolic tribute to India’s rich maritime heritage. He was joined by the Chief Ministers of key coastal states — Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), Bhupendra Patel (Gujarat), Pramod Sawant (Goa), and Mohan Charan Majhi (Odisha) — alongside ministers and delegations from 11 countries.
In his keynote address, Amit Shah emphasized India’s growing maritime ambitions under the Maritime Vision 2030, which aims to strengthen port infrastructure, boost trade competitiveness, and establish India as a global maritime power. “India believes in cooperation, and we have prepared a roadmap for it,” he said, announcing the development of new mega and deep-draft ports that will expand India’s total port handling capacity to 10,000 million metric tonnes (MT). Shah also highlighted India’s strategic position along major global trade corridors, including the India–Middle East–Europe Corridor (IMEC) and the North–South Transport Corridor, and noted that the upcoming Vadhvan Port in Maharashtra is poised to be among the world’s top ten ports once operational.
A global gathering of maritime leaders
Day 1 brought together an impressive lineup of global maritime leaders, policymakers, and industry stakeholders for over 100 high-level dialogues. Among the international dignitaries addressing the Ministerial Plenary were:
- Anthony Smith Jr., Minister of Agriculture, Land, Fisheries, and the Blue Economy, Antigua and Barbuda
- Magdalene Dagoseh, Minister of Commerce and Industry, Liberia
- Dr. Arvin Boolell GOSK, Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy, and Fisheries, Mauritius
- Robert Tieman, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, Netherlands
- Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Norway
- Anura Karunathilaka, Minister of Ports and Civil Aviation, Sri Lanka
- Aung Kyaw Tun, Deputy Minister of Transport and Communications, Myanmar
- Dr. Rumaih Al-Rumaih, Vice Minister of Transport & Logistic Services, Saudi Arabia
- Lee Hyun, Policy Advisor to the Minister, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, South Korea
The global maritime India summit: Defining the future
At the heart of IMW 2025 is the Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS) — the Ministry’s flagship platform designed to position India as a thought leader in global maritime discourse and innovation. GMIS aims to bring together heads of state, senior ministers, CEOs, policymakers, and investors to chart the future of maritime trade, infrastructure, sustainability, and digitalization.
Key focus areas include port modernization, green shipping, shipbuilding, maritime finance, and digital transformation. With delegations from over 50 countries, GMIS will feature exhibitions, B2B meetings, and MoU signings aimed at fostering strategic partnerships and driving maritime investment.
Charting the course ahead
IMW 2025 has sent a clear signal — India’s maritime ambition is backed by policy strength, infrastructure readiness, and market potential. As the event unfolds, significant MoUs and investment announcements are expected, reinforcing India’s transition from a coastal economy to a global maritime powerhouse.
As Mumbai hosts this landmark gathering, the spotlight remains on how effectively India can leverage the momentum of IMW 2025 to transform its maritime vision into tangible partnerships, innovation, and sustainable growth — steering the nation’s maritime future for decades to come.
