SDG 9: Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure | SDG 14: Life Below Water
Institutions: Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways
At the “Samudra se Samriddhi” event in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for maritime development projects worth over ₹34,200 crore. These include new terminals, port upgrades, coastal protection works, and associated infrastructure along coastlines.
In a major policy shift, the Government has now recognised large ships as infrastructure, bringing shipbuilding and related sectors under the benefits associated with infrastructure financing (e.g. easier credit, favorable interest rates).
The move is aimed at reducing India’s heavy dependence on foreign shipping services. Currently, India pays about $75 billion annually to foreign shipping firms - nearly equivalent to the country’s defence budget - as freight costs.
By elevating shipbuilding and maritime assets to infrastructure status, the government is integrating them into its broader development financing and industrial strategy. This could stimulate domestic ship production, boost port-led growth, and reorient India’s global trade participation.
Relevant Question for Policy Stakeholders: How can policy, financing, and regulatory frameworks support Indian shipyards and ports to scale sustainably and compete globally under the new infrastructure paradigm?
Follow the full press release here: India Recognises Large Ships as Infrastructure; Launches Maritime Projects in Bhavnagar