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New Delhi, Oct 29 (IANS) Indian Maritime University (IMU) Vice-Chancellor Malini V. Shankar said during the Indian Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai on Wednesday that India’s maritime sector has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the last decade under the strong and consistent leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Highlighting the Prime Minister’s long-term vision, Dr Shankar said that since 2016, India has steadily moved towards becoming a major player in the global maritime industry.
“The Prime Minister’s commitment to developing India’s maritime sector is very strong and clear. His vision for 2047 aims to establish India as a global maritime hub through technological innovation and economic growth,” he told IANS.
He emphasized that development of new ports, expansion of coastal trade and strengthening of logistics network have significantly improved India’s trade efficiency. He said better rail connectivity for steel, fertilizer and mining industries has boosted cargo movement and attracted global confidence.
Speaking about the Indian Maritime Week 2025, Dr. Shankar said that the event “far exceeded expectations” and was possibly one of the largest since independence.
“In 2016, we had the Maritime Investment Summit, which was largely investment-focused. Over the last ten years, the maritime sector has gained tremendous momentum – port capacity has doubled, cargo handling has increased manifold, and the sector is witnessing a new wave of growth,” he said.
He said an investment of about Rs 70,000 crore has been earmarked for shipbuilding, and five colonial-era maritime laws have been replaced with modern legislation to suit the growing needs of the industry.
On Prime Minister Modi’s address at the event, he commented, “All the initiatives taken are in line with planning and documentation. This shows India’s commitment not just to planning, but to implementation.”
He also appreciated the collaborative approach in developing major projects like Wadhawan Port in Maharashtra and Vizhinjam Port in Kerala and described them as “wonderful examples” of Centre-State partnership in the maritime sector.
–IANS
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