Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal today said that the maritime sector will play a transformative role in driving India’s economic growth as the country moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat.

 

Addressing a seminar on maritime education and a MoU exchange ceremony at the Delhi School of Economics in New Delhi, Mr Sonowal said India’s maritime vision is guided by the SAGAR and MAHASAGAR doctrines, reflecting the government’s commitment to regional cooperation, maritime security and shared prosperity. He said for a country with a coastline of over 11 thousand kilometres and 111 national waterways, strengthening the maritime sector is not just an opportunity but a national imperative. Mr Sonowal said an integrated and coordinated framework is driving India’s maritime transformation, with sustainability as a central pillar. 

 

He noted that India’s seafaring workforce has nearly tripled over the last 12 years and the country now ranks among the top three providers globally, contributing around 12 per cent of the global maritime workforce. He added that the government aims to increase this share to 20 per cent by 2030. 

 

During the event, two MOUs were exchanged, including one between the University of Delhi and the Research and Information System for Developing Countries for maritime capacity building and academic exchanges, and another between the Research and Information System and the Delhi School of Economics for joint programmes in public policy research and training.