Interorient in collaboration with Danship & Partners announces FDI of INR 10,000 Cr in the Indian Shipping Sector

NEW DELHI : A landmark Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the Indian shipping sector stands announced by a Cyprus maritime entity, Interorient Navigation Co. Ltd., based in Limassol, Cyprus, in collaboration with Danship & Partners Ltd., also based in Limassol, Cyprus. This investment of INR 10,000 crore is, by far, the largest ever FDI in the Indian shipping sector since this sector was opened to 100% FDI in the year 2005. While Interorient is helmed by Mr. Themis Papadopoulas (Cypriot), Danship & Partners is helmed by Capt. Danniel Gautam Chopra (Indian).

This mega investment symbolises the deep and wide diplomatic relations, bilateral, between India & Cyprus and will bring the two countries even more closer to each other.

The Hon’ble Prime Minister (PM) of India, Mr. Narendra Modi, had recently made a state visit to Cyprus on 15th June 2025. This was the first ever state visit to Cyprus by an Indian PM in over two decades.

During his visit, the Indian PM had formal discussions with the Hon’ble President of Cyprus, Mr. Nikos Christodoulides. A wide range of issues were deliberated in this meeting. Inter-alia, strengthening of cooperation between the two countries in the maritime domain was underscored. Incidentally, both India and Cyprus are major maritime nations and also have an Indo-Cyprus Maritime Cooperation Framework Agreement in place.

This historic investment proposal closely aligns with the roadmap of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India’s vision of ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’, contributing to a broader maritime infrastructure development under initiatives such as ‘Maritime India Vision – 2030’ and ‘SagarMala. ’This is a modest contribution towards fulfilling the blueprint of the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India’s ‘Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’ as well as ‘Viksit Bharat.’

This imminent FDI in India will contribute, among other things, the following in broader Indian national interest:

All the ships under this investment will be registered under the Indian flag, adding saliently to the India national shipping tonnage.

This will provide large employment for Indian cadets, trainees and seafarers.

The freight earned for carriage of Indian EXIM (export-import) trade will remain in the Indian economy.
This will also contribute to India’s economic security, in the overall.

This will make for value-added contributions to India’s journey towards becoming the third largest economy in the world over the next few years.