India and Japan agree to deepen maritime partnership with focus on ports, shipbuilding, and sustainable technologies.
In a significant bilateral meeting held in Oslo, Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal and Japan’s Vice Minister Shri Terada Yoshimichi agreed to expand maritime cooperation between India and Japan. Discussions spanned investments in shipbuilding, port digitisation, green port initiatives, and employment opportunities for Indian seafarers in Japan.
Both nations explored joint efforts in transforming Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep into Smart Islands through renewable energy and smart mobility. India expressed interest in partnering with Japanese shipbuilders such as Imabari Shipbuilding and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, while also inviting Japan’s NYK Line, MOL, and K Line to invest in India’s growing maritime sector.
Key areas of convergence included maritime training, R&D, and infrastructure development. Sonowal highlighted India’s readiness to collaborate through Cochin Shipyard and other institutions. He also proposed Japan’s involvement in the National Maritime Heritage Museum at Lothal and invited Japanese participation in India Maritime Week 2025.
The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment to a sustainable maritime future, regional security, and strengthening Indo-Japanese ties under global frameworks like the Quad and SCRI.
Source: PIB Delhi
