Mumbai (Maharashtra), October 29 (ANI): At India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai, DP World of Saudi Arabia signed five Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) worth over Rs 4,000 crore, marking a major milestone in India’s maritime development. The agreements aim to enhance port infrastructure, shipbuilding, and logistics capacity, in line with the government’s vision to establish India as a global maritime hub.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted the significance of the deals, stating, “Today, five MoUs worth over Rs 4,000 crores have been signed by DP World. It is a great initiative, and I believe this is how we are building our ecosystem of business policy and engagement in this maritime sector. This is mutual growth.”
Sonowal emphasized that these partnerships are part of India’s mission to create a resilient maritime ecosystem supported by public-private partnerships. He said the Indian Port Act 2025 provides a modern governance framework aligned with global best practices and sustainability standards. The government, he added, has planned total investments of about Rs 80 lakh crore in the maritime and port logistics sector.
“From USD 7.9 million in 2014–15 to USD 13.5 million in 2024–25, India’s port performance has improved significantly,” Sonowal noted. “Average turnaround time has declined from 96 hours to 49.5 hours, and pre-berthing detention has dropped to 3.8 hours.”
The MoUs with DP World align with the Maritime India Vision 2047, which focuses on transforming port operations, shipping, and shipbuilding. “Public-private partnership is not just welcome, it is foundational,” Sonowal said. “The government remains open to co-design and co-invest with the private sector so that market insight meets state strategy.”
DP World Chairman Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem said the partnerships reflect a “shared commitment and belief in the strength of India’s economy.” He remarked, “Today marks another step forward in strengthening our partnership with India’s maritime and industry sectors. Together, we are building a more connected, competitive, and sustainable maritime future for India.”
Sulayem added that the company’s collaboration with the Cochin Port Authority will upgrade infrastructure and boost handling capacity for next-generation vessels. “Together with Cochin Shipyard and the Centre of Excellence in Maritime and Shipbuilding, we are investing in skills and training to make India a global hub for shipbuilding and ship repair talent,” he said.
DP World’s initiatives include projects at Kandla Port, where new technology pilots will promote high-speed, sustainable freight movement and clean energy in port operations. “This is a pilot project that will be born in India, a technology born in India, and we will take it to the world,” Sulayem added.
Sonowal concluded that these MoUs “serve as milestones on the future pathway,” helping to build a maritime ecosystem that is “resilient, dynamic, inclusive, competitive, and future-ready.” (ANI)
About The Author
