India gears up for Maritime Week 2025, Ambassadors’ Roundtable sets stage in Delhi

India gears up for Maritime Week 2025, Ambassadors’ Roundtable sets stage in Delhi

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has kick-started preparations for India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 with an Ambassadors’ Roundtable in the capital, bringing together envoys from over 25 countries, top officials, and industry leaders.

The five-day IMW 2025 will be held in Mumbai from October 27 to 31 at the NESCO Exhibition Centre and is expected to showcase India’s maritime growth story, future opportunities, and global collaborations.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, who chaired the session, stressed the importance of a sustainable maritime strategy. “The power of water is empowering the global society to grow in many aspects of human civilisation. We should explore its potential without harming our ecology and environment,” he said.

Minister of State Shantanu Thakur underlined the government’s efforts to modernise ports and promote digital and green shipping. He quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ports as “gateways of India’s future".

"Among the many drivers of the transformation of the Indian economy, the maritime and logistic sector offers some of the most promising avenues. Our hon’ble Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi ji has often emphasized that ports are not just gateway of prosperity, but also gateways of India’s Future. By this vision, India is modernising its maritime sector, so that it becomes a pillar of nation-building technologies and an ocean of sustainable development," Thakur said.

The event also featured inputs from Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and senior officials including Shaktikanta Das, PS-2 to the Prime Minister, while Joint Secretary R. Laxmanan presented the agenda for IMW 2025, spotlighting shipbuilding, port-led development, blue economy pathways and innovation-driven logistics.

Officials said the deliberations will shape the upcoming biennial flagship event, aimed at positioning India as a global maritime hub and deepening international partnerships.