India accelerates maritime drive toward 2047 global hub vision

The country also aims to enhance export competitiveness and reduce logistics overheads.

India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways is aiming to accelerate its infrastructure modernisation and shipbuilding initiatives to position the country as a global maritime hub by 2047.

Addressing the CII EXIM Conference 2026, Minister of State Shantanu Thakur noted that India's port capacity has more than doubled over the last decade, with significant improvements in turnaround times.

Given that maritime routes handle 95% of India’s trade volume, the government is prioritising the maritime sector to drive the country's transition toward a $5t economy.

This shift toward a port-led development model also aims to enhance export competitiveness and reduce logistics overheads through multimodal connectivity and industry partnerships.