India and Japan to foster maritime ties with focus on shipbuilding

Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal met with Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs Terada Yoshimichi in Oslo, Norway, in a major move to strengthen maritime cooperation. Key topics like shipbuilding, port digitalization, green port projects, maritime training, and the conversion of India’s Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands into Smart Islands were discussed in order to strengthen maritime ties between Japan and India.

With an emphasis on partnerships with top Japanese firms including Imabari Shipbuilding, JMUC, Kanagawa Dockyard, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the ministers looked at prospects for Japanese investment in Indian shipyards.

Sonowal highlighted India’s interest in joint ventures with these firms, particularly for greenfield projects like Imabari Shipbuilding’s initiative in Andhra Pradesh. He also invited Japan’s maritime giants—NYK Line, MOL, and K Line—to explore investment opportunities in India’s burgeoning maritime sector.

The meeting also emphasized sustainable technologies and disaster-resilient infrastructure, with both sides discussing the development of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep as Smart Islands. Leveraging Japan’s expertise in island development, the collaboration aims to integrate renewable energy, smart mobility systems, and digital infrastructure while prioritizing ecological conservation and regional maritime security. Vice Minister Terada expressed Japan’s keen interest in expanding maritime collaboration, particularly in shipbuilding and seafarer training.

A key focus of the talks was the upskilling and employment of Indian seafarers in Japan. With over 154,000 trained seafarers, India is well-positioned to support Japan’s maritime workforce. Sonowal proposed structured training programs by Japanese maritime leaders to enhance the skills of Indian engineers and workers, further solidifying bilateral ties.

The ministers also discussed India’s ambitious National Maritime Heritage Museum (NMHC) at Lothal, Gujarat, aimed at showcasing the country’s rich maritime legacy. Sonowal invited Japan to partner in this project and expressed hope for an early MoU to formalise the collaboration.

Additionally, he extended an invitation to Vice Minister Terada for the India Maritime Week 2025, to be held in Mumbai from October 27-31, 2025, to explore further opportunities for investment and innovation in the maritime sector. The talks underscored the deep Indo-Japanese partnership, rooted in shared values of democracy, freedom, and cultural ties. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to regional maritime security and economic integration through frameworks like the Quad and the India-Japan-Australia Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI).