Wed Dec 25 16:40:27 UTC 2024: ## India Aims for Global Maritime Dominance by 2047

**New Delhi, Dec 25, 2024** – India is aggressively pursuing a vision to become a global leader in the maritime sector by 2047, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal announced today. This ambitious plan, part of the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, involves a staggering ₹80 lakh crore investment over 25 years.

The Minister highlighted India’s significant progress in recent years, citing improvements in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index and reductions in container dwell and ship turnaround times. He emphasized the upcoming Coastal Shipping Bill and Merchant Shipping Bill, which are expected to significantly boost coastal shipping and ease of doing business.

Key components of the vision include:

* **Shipbuilding and Recycling:** India aims to be among the top 10 shipbuilding nations by 2030 and among the top five by 2047, spurring collaborations with countries like South Korea and Japan. The government is creating shipbuilding clusters in states like Gujarat, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.

* **Port Modernization and Capacity Expansion:** The plan includes modernizing ports to handle 10,000 million metric tonnes of cargo by 2047, up from the current 1,600 million.

* **Cruise Tourism:** Six international cruise terminals are already operational, attracting major international cruise lines. Lighthouse tourism is also seeing significant growth, with tourist footfall increasing by 273% in the last 10 years.

* **National Maritime Heritage Complex:** Construction of the world’s largest maritime museum in Lothal, Gujarat, is underway, with the first phase expected to open in September 2025 and full completion by 2029. International collaborations are in place to foster research and knowledge sharing.

* **Cargo Promotion Scheme:** A 35% incentive is being offered to promote cargo transport via waterways, a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly option compared to road and rail.

Sonowal emphasized legislative reforms as crucial for this growth, highlighting the recent revamp of several maritime-related acts and the upcoming enactment of the Coastal Shipping and Merchant Shipping Bills. The Minister expressed confidence that India possesses the skills and heritage to achieve its ambitious maritime goals, attracting global investment and creating thousands of jobs.

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