Denmark, India deepen maritime ties, eye shipbuilding and naval technology collaboration

Several Danish companies involved in manufacturing vessel equipment and propulsion systems are eyeing opportunities in India after the government announced a Rs 70,000 crore support package and ambitious targets for the maritime sector, Denmark’s Ambassador to India Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen said.

Denmark is a major maritime economy, with AP Moller-Maersk, one of the world’s largest shipping and terminal companies, headquartered in Copenhagen. Danish players currently operating in India are also eyeing opportunities in ship recycling, port decarbonisation, onshore power, green fuels and maritime technology, Kristensen told reporters. Major Danish companies already operating in India include APM Terminals.

Danish maritime equipment firms are particularly interested in India’s upcoming shipbuilding clusters, which could be located under the second part of the government’s package, the Rs 19,989 crore shipbuilding cluster development scheme. Under this, the Indian government is planning five greenfield clusters with an ancillary ecosystem for equipment manufacturing in place from the outset.

India and Denmark are also exploring collaboration on maritime decarbonisation, including a possible green shipping corridor, Pallesen said. India and Singapore signed an agreement for such a corridor in September 2025, entailing green shipping facilities at ports in both countries and the digitalisation of trade.

While India’s policy framework prioritises local value creation, domestic shipbuilding and reduced reliance on foreign fleets, it actively invites foreign participation in areas such as technology, high-value components and green maritime solutions, the embassy said.