HAMBURG: India’s growing maritime and logistics capabilities took centre stage at SMM Hamburg 2026 in Hamburg, as Shri Vijay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), along with representatives of the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), held discussions with Mr. Rolf Habben Jansen, CEO of Hapag-Lloyd AG.
The meeting focused on strengthening collaboration across India’s rapidly expanding maritime, shipping and logistics ecosystem and exploring new opportunities for partnership between India and one of the world’s leading container shipping companies.
The discussions covered a broad range of areas, including maritime logistics, shipbuilding, ship repair and India’s growing role in global maritime trade. Both sides explored opportunities to deepen commercial linkages and identify new avenues for cooperation that could further connect India’s maritime capabilities with international trade and global supply chains.
India’s expanding port infrastructure, growing cargo volumes and focus on integrated multimodal logistics are creating significant opportunities for international shipping and logistics players. The engagement highlighted the potential for greater collaboration in strengthening logistics connectivity and supporting the development of efficient and resilient maritime supply chains.
The discussions also reflected India’s growing emphasis on strengthening its domestic shipbuilding and ship repair ecosystem. Collaboration with global maritime companies and industry leaders can support technology partnerships, knowledge exchange and greater integration of Indian capabilities with international maritime value chains.
As India advances towards building a globally competitive, technologically advanced and sustainable maritime ecosystem, partnerships with leading international players such as Hapag-Lloyd AG can play an important role in unlocking new commercial opportunities and enhancing India’s position in global shipping and logistics networks.
The engagement at SMM 2026 reaffirmed the increasing depth of India–Germany maritime cooperation and the strong potential for collaboration between the two countries across shipping, logistics, maritime technology and industrial development.
The meeting also underscored the significant opportunities emerging from India’s maritime growth story, driven by continued investments in port modernisation, logistics infrastructure, shipbuilding and trade connectivity.
The discussions mark another important step towards strengthening India’s engagement with global maritime leaders and creating new partnerships that can support the country’s journey towards becoming a major global maritime hub.
