India steadily positioning itself as competitive maritime nation: Shipping secretary

New Delhi, Apr 28 ( PTI) India is steadily positioning itself as a competitive maritime nation, supported by policy reforms, infrastructure expansion, and increased private sector participation, Shipping Secretary Vijay Kumar said on Tuesday. Kumar also underscored the significant transformation of India's maritime sector in recent years, marked by improved port performance, enhanced global rankings, and growing integration with international trade networks. He was addressing the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) National Consultative Workshop with Coastal States and Union Territories in New Delhi . The workshop served as a collaborative platform to align national priorities with state-level initiatives, with a focus on accelerating port-led development, strengthening logistics efficiency, and advancing digital and sustainable maritime practices. Highlighting the scale of opportunity, the secretary noted that India's port capacity and operational capabilities are set to expand significantly over the coming decades, supported by ongoing investments, mechanisation, and port-led industrialisation initiatives. He also pointed to the government's focused push on shipbuilding as a strategic priority to enhance India's position in the global maritime value chain. According to an official statement, a key focus of the discussions was the role of non-major ports, which handle nearly 46 per cent of the country's cargo. Recognising their critical contribution to regional development and coastal logistics, the ministry emphasised the need for closer alignment of these ports with national frameworks, particularly in areas of process standardisation, digital integration, and operational efficiency. The statement said the workshop deliberations were structured around three core themes: sectoral overview, regulatory and digital reforms, and state-level initiatives for capacity expansion and efficiency enhancement. Discussions underlined the progress made in infrastructure development, public-private partnership frameworks, and ease of doing business measures, while also identifying areas for further improvement, it added. On the regulatory and technology front, participants discussed the implementation of the One Nation One Port Process (ONOP), aimed at standardising port procedures, and the Maritime Single Window (MSW) - Sagar Setu, which is expected to enable seamless, end-to-end digital transactions. The Indian Ports Act, 2025, along with other recent maritime legislations, was noted as a key enabler for strengthening Centre-State coordination and ensuring a transparent and future-ready regulatory ecosystem. Coastal states and Union Territories shared their ongoing initiatives and plans, including infrastructure expansion, digitalisation, green port initiatives, and the development of shipbuilding and maritime industrial clusters. The workshop witnessed participation from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, West Bengal, and the Union Territories of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Puducherry, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, and Lakshadweep.

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