NEW DELHI: Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted India’s growing maritime strength, expanding employment opportunities and ambitious long-term goals for the sector while addressing the Bharat Nirman Summit, where the focus was on India’s Mission 2047 and the journey towards a Viksit Bharat.
Shri Sonowal said that India is today the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, underlining the country’s growing contribution to the global maritime workforce. He stated that by 2030, more than six lakh highly skilled Indian professionals are expected to drive global shipping, creating significant opportunities for the country’s youth.
The Minister emphasised that India’s maritime ambitions extend across the entire ecosystem — from seafarers and shipping to ports, shipbuilding, ship repair, logistics, inland waterways, technology and green maritime development.
Vadhvan Port to Create 20 Lakh Jobs
Highlighting the transformative potential of new-generation port infrastructure, Shri Sonowal said the upcoming Vadhvan Port in Maharashtra alone has the potential to create around 20 lakh jobs and emerge among the world’s top 10 container ports.
The development of Vadhvan Port is expected to significantly strengthen India’s maritime connectivity, enhance EXIM trade capacity and support the country’s emergence as a global logistics and transshipment hub.
India Targeting Top Five Shipbuilding Nation by 2047
Shri Sonowal reiterated the Government’s ambition to make India one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations by 2047.
The target is part of India’s wider Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which seeks to build a globally competitive, self-reliant and technologically advanced maritime ecosystem.
Strengthening domestic shipbuilding and ship-repair capabilities will not only reduce India’s dependence on foreign shipyards but also generate large-scale employment, develop specialised skills and create opportunities across the wider maritime manufacturing ecosystem.
Port Efficiency Reaches New Heights
The Minister also highlighted the remarkable improvement in operational efficiency at Indian ports, noting that port turnaround time has now come down to just 26 hours.
The dramatic reduction in turnaround time reflects the Government’s continued focus on modernisation, mechanisation, digitalisation, improved terminal operations and stronger road and rail connectivity.
Faster vessel turnaround is expected to further improve the competitiveness of Indian ports, reduce logistics costs and strengthen India’s position in global trade.
Maritime Sector to Create Millions of Opportunities
Shri Sonowal stressed that India’s maritime sector is poised to become a major engine of employment and economic growth.
With investments in ports, shipbuilding, shipping, coastal shipping, inland waterways, logistics and maritime technology, the sector is expected to generate millions of direct and indirect opportunities for India’s young population.
He emphasised that developing a highly skilled maritime workforce will remain central to India’s ambition of becoming a leading global maritime power.
Building a Stronger Maritime India by 2047
The Minister said India’s maritime transformation is being driven by a long-term vision that integrates infrastructure development with technology, sustainability, skills and global competitiveness.
Initiatives under Sagarmala, Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 are helping create modern ports, improve connectivity, promote coastal and inland waterway transportation and strengthen India’s Blue Economy.
Shri Sonowal credited the dynamic leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi for accelerating India’s maritime transformation and creating an enabling ecosystem for large-scale investments and infrastructure development.
He said the Government’s focus is not merely on expanding physical infrastructure, but on creating a future-ready maritime ecosystem that can support trade, employment, manufacturing and economic growth for decades to come.
With a rapidly expanding pool of skilled seafarers, world-class port infrastructure, ambitious shipbuilding targets and transformational projects such as Vadhvan Port, India is steadily strengthening its position on the global maritime map.
The Bharat Nirman Summit reinforced the message that Mission 2047 is not only about building infrastructure — it is about building capabilities, creating opportunities for India’s youth and positioning Bharat as a leading global maritime power.
