Union Home and Cooperation Minister Mr. Amit Shah inaugurated the prestigious ‘India Maritime Week 2025’ in Mumbai, marking the beginning of India’s largest maritime gathering. The mega event, organized by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, will continue till October 31 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre.
Chief Ministers of Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and Odisha graced the occasion, along with Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, and industry leaders, innovators, and global delegates from over 100 countries.
During the inaugural session, Chief Minister of Gujarat, Mr. Bhupendra Patel, presented Gujarat’s remarkable maritime growth story, highlighting its transformation under the ‘Samudra Se Samriddhi’ (Prosperity Through the Seas) initiative inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision.
CM Bhupendra Patel: Gujarat Leading India’s Maritime Revolution
Addressing the inaugural gathering, Mr. Bhupendra Patel said that under the visionary leadership of the Prime Minister, Gujarat has adopted the path of port-led prosperity, turning its ports into gateways of economic growth and global trade.
He stated that the ecosystem for building “chips and ships” has been successfully developed in Gujarat, strengthening the Prime Minister’s goal of an Aatmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India). “Our state has become a model of port-led development, handling more than 40 percent of India’s total cargo traffic,” he added.
Mr. Patel also shared that Gujarat aims to expand the capacity of its major and non-major ports to 3,000 MMTPA by 2047, aligning with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 set forth by the Prime Minister.
Maritime Heritage and Modern Progress Go Hand in Hand
The Chief Minister emphasized that Gujarat’s maritime identity blends ancient heritage with modern infrastructure. He noted that 98 percent of India’s ship recycling takes place at Alang, the world’s largest ship recycling yard, where more than 40,000 youth have been trained for sustainable employment.
Mr. Patel also highlighted the upcoming National Maritime Heritage Complex at Lothal, one of the world’s oldest dockyards, being developed as a symbol of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi”—development that honors heritage.
Gujarat’s Contribution to India’s Blue Economy
Elaborating on Gujarat’s commitment to the Blue Economy, the Chief Minister mentioned that the state is implementing numerous initiatives under the Sagarmala Project, including:
- Port modernization and expansion
- Enhanced coastal connectivity through rail and road networks
- Smart industrial port city projects
- Coastal community development and fisheries promotion
- Skill enhancement and maritime innovation programs
Mr. Patel emphasized that Gujarat is also a leader in the LNG-LPG sector, with the Dahej LNG terminal handling over 80 percent of India’s total LNG-LPG capacity.
Gujarat: From Vision to Global Maritime Leadership
Tracing Gujarat’s two-decade-long journey in maritime development, Mr. Patel said the transformation began when Mr. Narendra Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat. “The vision of Samudra Se Samriddhi laid the foundation for Gujarat’s emergence as the Maritime Gateway of the Nation,” he stated.
He added that under the continued leadership of Mr. Modi and Mr. Amit Shah, Gujarat has created a robust port infrastructure, strengthened private sector participation, and fostered trade and employment opportunities along the coastline.
Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047: A Roadmap for the Future
The Chief Minister reiterated Gujarat’s full commitment to realizing the Prime Minister’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, which aims to position India among the top five shipbuilding nations in the world. To support this vision, Gujarat is expanding existing shipyards and formulating a comprehensive maritime policy framework to attract investment and boost innovation.
Mr. Patel called for inclusive and sustainable growth in the maritime sector, urging all stakeholders to work collectively toward achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat and Aatmanirbhar Bharat.
Global Collaboration and National Leadership
The inaugural event witnessed participation from Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr. Devendra Fadnavis, Chief Minister of Goa Mr. Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Odisha Mr. Mohan Charan Majhi, Union Minister of State Mr. Shantanu Thakur, and Deputy Chief Ministers of Maharashtra Mr. Eknath Shinde and Mr. Ajit Pawar.
With over 100 international delegates and maritime industry experts, India Maritime Week 2025 serves as a global platform to showcase India’s leadership in sustainable shipping, port-led growth, and blue economy innovation.
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