Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mr Sarbananda Sonowal, is on a visit to Singapore aimed at enhancing maritime cooperation between India and Singapore. The visit coincides with Singapore Maritime Week, where he has been invited by the Singaporean government to participate in various high-level dialogues and meetings.
India has launched wide-ranging efforts to expand port infrastructure and improve ease of doing business, and aims to emerge as one of the top five shipbuilding nations by 2047, the Minister said while speaking at the Singapore Maritime Week (March 24-28, 2025) on Monday. The reforms are bearing fruit in the form of increased port efficiency, stronger cargo flows and rising investor confidence in India. Highlighting the importance of a Green and Sustainable Maritime Future, he said India is enhancing port operations with green infrastructure, encouraging low-emission shipping and building the foundation for a greener maritime economy. Indian shipyards are already innovating in the development of low-carbon vessels. Further, India is establishing three Green Hydrogen Hub Ports - Kandla, Tuticorin and Paradip - to support the manufacturing of green hydrogen and its derivatives, and to pioneer the use of alternative fuels in the maritime domain, Mr Sonowal highlighted.
Mr Sonowal also engaged in discussions with his Singaporean counterpart and other prominent maritime leaders to explore opportunities for collaboration within the maritime industry. The visit is significant as India and Singapore are expected to sign a Letter of Intent (LoI) for a Green Digital Shipping Corridor, which aims to connect India’s shipping sector with Singapore’s renowned maritime hub, thereby boosting trade and sustainability efforts, as per a report.
Source: Exim News Service: Singapore, March 24