Sarbananda Sonowal holds roundtable with Norwegian Shipowners and invites investment in India’s Maritime Sector
OSLO : Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal invited Norwegian shipowners to invest in India’s growing maritime sector during a roundtable with the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA) here on Tuesday. Thanking NSA President, Harald Fotland for hosting the dialogue, Shri Sonowal highlighted India and Norway’s shared values of sustainability, innovation, and mutual growth.
“India’s maritime sector is on a transformative path, driven by sustainability, innovation, and global partnerships. We invite greater collaboration with Norway to build a green, smart, and resilient maritime ecosystem. With major investments in green ports, alternative fuels like green hydrogen, and strategic incentives, India aims to become a global leader in shipbuilding. Our growing partnership with Norway — reflected in Indian shipyards delivering next-gen vessels to Norwegian firms — showcases India’s emergence as a trusted, future-ready hub for cost-effective and sustainable maritime solutions. Let’s strengthen this momentum together,” the Union Minister, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said.
During the meeting, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted key areas for India-Norway maritime collaboration. He said that Indian shipyards currently hold 11% of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association (NSA)’s order book. He urged for further expansion of orders, including leveraging India’s ship-breaking credit note scheme. Emphasising India’s robust seafaring workforce—ranked second in NSA’s global fleet—he called for broader recruitment partnerships. He also underlined the significant investment opportunities available under India’s flagship Sagarmala programme and the $2.9 billion Maritime Development Fund, offering incentives across shipbuilding, ports, and logistics. The Union Minister stressed India’s commitment to innovation through digital platforms like ONOP and MAITRI and invited Norway’s cooperation in green shipping corridors, ship recycling, and IMO-aligned net-zero goals, noting that 87% of Indian recycling yards are now HKC compliant.
The Union Minister Shri Sarbananda Sonowal is on a five day official visit to Norway to participate in Nor-Shipping event as well as to Denmark, with a main aim to further strengthen the maritime relationship with the leaders of the Global Maritime sector.
