Amit Shah says the $5 billion Great Nicobar project will multiply India’s maritime trade as India eyes top global port rankings and massive investments.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has announced that India is on the brink of creating new maritime history, with the $5 billion Great Nicobar Island Development Project set to multiply the country’s maritime trade significantly. Speaking at the inauguration of India Maritime Week 2025 on Monday, October 27, Shah highlighted that India now stands strong with democratic stability, advanced naval capabilities, and a powerful strategic link between the Indo-Pacific and the Global South.
Shah said the Great Nicobar project, whose construction began in 2021, will reshape India’s maritime future and accelerate global trade movement through the Bay of Bengal. Emphasising India’s collaborative approach, he shared that the maritime sector currently offers investment opportunities worth ₹10 lakh crore.
In a major announcement, Shah revealed that the upcoming Vadhavan Port near Mumbai, built with an investment of $10 billion, will rank among the top 10 ports in the world from day one of operations. India is also targeting a place among the world’s top five shipbuilding nations while tripling cargo handling capacity to 10,000 MMTPA by developing deep-draft ports.
Shah credited structural reforms introduced by the central government for positioning India as a rising maritime power. “We are at the cusp of creating a new maritime history,” he declared, adding that the iconic Gateway of India will soon evolve into a “Gateway of the World.”
India Maritime Week 2025 Highlights
The ongoing five-day India Maritime Week (October 27–31), organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways in partnership with the Indian Ports Association, is showcasing innovation, trade and sustainability in the maritime sector.
- 1.5 lakh registrations from 11 countries
- 350+ foreign speakers participating
- 680 investment agreements worth over ₹10 crore each across multiple sub-sectors
- 7 lakh new jobs expected to be generated
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, also addressed the gathering, emphasising that peace, stability, and strong law and order, strengthened under Shah’s leadership, are key drivers for investor confidence and maritime growth.
With massive investments, bold infrastructure goals, and a global-forward strategy, India is repositioning itself as a dominant force in the maritime trade ecosystem.
Source: PTI
