MoPSW Organizes Maritime Financing Summit 2025 in New Delhi to Boost India’s Port Efficiency and Global Investment.
National
In July 2025, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) successfully hosted the Maritime Financing Summit 2025 in New Delhi, India. The event convened senior policymakers, global investors, domain experts, and industry leaders to explore financial solutions aimed at strengthening India’s maritime infrastructure and global port competitiveness.
- The summit aligned with the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV 2047), which envisions India as a leading global maritime hub by 2047. The vision focuses on strengthening shipbuilding, port infrastructure, and financial resilience across the country.
- Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of MoPSW, delivered the keynote address. He emphasized that India’s ports have dramatically enhanced their operational performance, with average ship turnaround time reduced from 4 days to less than 1 day, setting a benchmark in global port efficiency.
- Major ports in India have witnessed a 70% increase in container handling capacity, along with a significant rise in cargo volume. These improvements are attributed to targeted infrastructure investments and port modernization.
Main Point :- (i) The Government of India (GoI) has permitted 100% Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the shipping sector under the Automatic Route (AR), allowing faster approvals and making India more attractive for international maritime investors.
(ii) To further boost the sector, the government announced the launch of the Maritime Development Fund (MDF)—a dedicated financing vehicle to support long-term capital investment in ports, shipyards, and related infrastructure, without regulatory bottlenecks.
(iii) Additionally, the introduction of the Maritime Digital Maturity Matrix (FDMM) will help assess and enhance digital capabilities of India’s major ports. This tool aims to ensure smart infrastructure and real-time operational transparency to support the evolving global maritime trade ecosystem.
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