HAMBURG: India reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening maritime cooperation with Germany and the wider European maritime community during the India Reception held in Hamburg on the sidelines of SMM Hamburg 2026.
Hosted by the Consulate General of India, Hamburg, the reception brought together government representatives, industry leaders, maritime experts and other distinguished stakeholders from India, Germany and across Europe for discussions on strengthening collaboration and exploring new opportunities in the maritime sector.
Shri Vijay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, along with representatives of the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA), joined dignitaries and industry leaders at the event, underscoring India’s growing engagement with the global maritime community.
The discussions focused on building a resilient, innovative and future-ready maritime ecosystem, with emphasis on enhanced international cooperation, technological advancement, sustainability and stronger institutional partnerships.
A major highlight of the evening was the signing and exchange of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Indian Maritime Centre (IMC) and the German Maritime Centre (DMZ). The agreement marks an important step towards strengthening maritime collaboration between India and Germany and is expected to facilitate closer engagement between the two countries across key areas of the maritime sector.
The reception also witnessed the announcement of the Indian Register of Shipping’s (IRS) Hamburg Office, reflecting India’s expanding global maritime presence and strengthening institutional linkages between the major maritime hubs of Mumbai and Hamburg.
The establishment of the Hamburg office is expected to further enhance the Indian Register of Shipping’s engagement with international stakeholders and support closer cooperation with the European maritime industry.
The milestones achieved during the India Reception highlighted the growing strength of the India-Germany maritime partnership and reinforced the shared commitment of both countries towards building a more connected, sustainable and future-oriented maritime sector.
As SMM Hamburg 2026 continues to bring together global maritime leaders and industry stakeholders, India’s engagements in Germany are setting the stage for deeper partnerships, greater institutional cooperation and new opportunities across the international maritime ecosystem.
The India Reception in Hamburg marked another significant step in India’s expanding global maritime outreach, reaffirming the country’s commitment to innovation, collaboration and stronger international partnerships as it moves towards a resilient and future-ready maritime future.
