India To Attract Rs 80 Lakh Crore Investments, Create 1.5 Crore Jobs In Maritime Sector

• India to attract Rs 80 lakh crore investments, create 1.5 crore jobs under Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision
• Sagarmala scheme driving 840 projects worth Rs 5.8 lakh crore; Vadhavan Port set to be among world’s top 10
• Kerala emerges as key hub with 54 projects worth Rs 24,000 crore; Cochin Port & Vallarpadam terminal primed for global growth

India will bring in investments of Rs 80 lakh crore, create more than 1.5 crore jobs, and speed up green shipping procedures in the next few years, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has stated. As per an official release, the ports, shipping and waterways minister also stated that India's maritime economy is experiencing a revolutionary change, catapulting the country into a future global maritime superpower.

"India's maritime growth narrative is one of prosperity, sustainability, and pride in our heritage. We have already laid the foundation as India's blue economy is set to reap Rs 80 lakh crore uplift, 1.5 crore jobs under Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision", the statement quoted Sonowal.

The government's flagship 'Sagarmala' scheme is leading this transformation with 840 projects worth Rs 5.8 lakh crore under implementation by 2035, the statement added. Already 272 projects worth Rs 1.41 lakh crore have been accomplished.

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As per the statement, the future Rs 76,000-crore Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra planned to be in top 10 container ports in the world is expected to generate 12 lakh jobs.In comparison, India's major ports have decreased turnaround time to 0.9 days, quicker than international standards in the US, Germany and Singapore. Nine Indian ports are presently ranked among the world's top 100.

Talking about the pivotal position Kerala occupies in India's vision of becoming a global maritime power, Sonowal opined, "Kerala holds India's vision to become a maritime superpower by 2047. The Cochin Port and its transhipment terminal at Vallarpadam are primed for further growth to handle increasing cargo flows".

Under the Sagarmala initiative, he indicated 54 projects for Rs 24,000 crore are being undertaken in Kerala, of which 20 are already completed. These include Kochi, Kannur, and Thrissur modernised fishing harbours with direct benefits to thousands of fishermen, Sonowal added. With India Maritime Week 2025 planned in Mumbai this October, the government expects increased international partnerships and new investment inflows. Sonowal called upon global stakeholders to consider a number of issues, including decarbonisation, supply chain resilience, cybersecurity, and sustainable shipping.