India and the Netherlands forge green maritime partnership at IMW 2025

India marked a defining moment in its maritime journey as the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) inaugurated India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 in Mumbai, setting the stage for a sustainable, digitally advanced, and globally connected maritime ecosystem. The opening day saw the signing of strategic MoUs worth nearly ₹55,000 crore between Indian and international partners, underscoring the nation’s ambition to become a global hub for green shipping and maritime innovation.

The Ministerial Plenary Session, chaired by Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and addressed by Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, brought together maritime ministers and senior delegates from over ten countries including the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Mauritius, and Sri Lanka.

Strengthening India–Netherlands Maritime Ties

A key milestone was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Maritime Cooperation between India and the Netherlands, alongside a Letter of Intent to establish a Green and Digital Sea Corridor linking major Indian ports with the Port of Rotterdam. This corridor will advance collaboration in clean marine fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol, and promote digitalisation and innovation in port logistics and vessel operations.

Other notable MoUs included:

Invest International with Indian Bank and ICICI Bank to boost maritime financing.

Dutch Climate Fund Managers partnering with Indian institutions to support the India Maritime Development Fund.

MARIN and the National Centre of Excellence for Green Ports and Shipping for joint research on sustainable ship technologies.

Port of Rotterdam with Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla) for institutional collaboration and knowledge sharing in port digitisation.

Additionally, a Dutch-funded market study titled “Indian Ports: Enabling Smart and Sustainable Port Development” by KPMG was launched, focusing on opportunities for accelerating India’s transition to smart and green port infrastructure.

Major Investments and Global Partnerships

Business MoUs worth ₹55,000 crore were inked with leading players including Adani Ports and SEZ, JSW Infrastructure, Chowgule & Company, Synergy Shipbuilders & Dock, Goa Shipyard, Abu Dhabi Ports Group, and Echandia Marine AB. These agreements span port expansion, shipyard modernization, skill development, and green shipbuilding projects.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said the collaborations highlight India’s integrated vision of developing a “clean, connected, and competitive maritime future.” Minister of State Shantanu Thakur added that sustainability and skill enhancement are central to the maritime transformation driving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

Driving Innovation and Investment

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, addressed a special session on innovative ship financing, highlighting India’s USD 1 trillion maritime opportunity and encouraging adoption of financing models such as TOT, InvITs, and PPPs to attract private capital. He also unveiled the CMEG (RIS) India Maritime Report 2025–26, titled “Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision: India’s Maritime Strides.”

Goa State Session and Regional Highlights

The Goa State Session, hosted by the Mormugao Port Authority in the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant, launched the Goa Maritime Vision Document and facilitated MoUs worth ₹3,525 crore in LNG and solar infrastructure, along with ₹6,163 crore in strategic port development projects.

Parallel sessions such as Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue and Amrit Kaal Panels on ship financing and registration gathered global experts, investors, and policymakers. State-specific sessions from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands showcased regional strengths and future opportunities, underscoring India’s emergence as a frontrunner in sustainable, innovative, and globally integrated maritime growth.