The maritime industry is not only committed to charting a sustainable and environmentally conscious course for the future but also recognizes the significant investment opportunities that lie within the realm of decarbonization. As the industry aims to limit global temperature rise to 1.5 °C and bring CO2 emissions closer to net zero by mid-century, there is a growing realization that decarbonization targets can serve as catalysts for investment and innovation. There is a vast potential for collaborations from the pursuit of green ports and shipping solutions.

The government is poised to oversee this transition to green shipping through collaborative efforts between governments, industry stakeholders, & research institutions and implement accelerated development and deployment of sustainable technologies as well as practices in maritime transport.

The maritime sector, responsible for transporting approximately 90% of international cargo volume, has witnessed significant advancements in technology, innovation, and transformation. The aim has been to enhance operational efficiency, optimize costs, and facilitate ease of doing business. The COVID-19 crisis has further underscored the critical role of digitalization in the functioning and operation of maritime supply chains worldwide. In this context, it is imperative that the maritime sectors in India improve their position in terms of technological innovation, advancement, and integration.

Adoption of new age technology can revolutionize port operations, supply chain management, and maritime services, enabling streamlined processes, real-time data exchange, predictive analytics, and enhanced operational visibility. By investing in automation and digitalization, stakeholders can unlock substantial value and play a crucial role in shaping a digitally empowered maritime ecosystem. The government's commitment to promoting investments in this area further reinforces the significant opportunities available for investors exploring to contribute to the sector's growth and development.

India boasts a vast coastline of over 7500 km and 14,500 km of extensive network of inland waterways. It presents numerous investment opportunities to tap into the vast potential of coastal shipping and inland waterways. The government through the National Logistics Policy 2022 and Gat Shakti master plan aim to reduce overall logistic costs, enable multimodal shifts, and foster economic growth.

Coastal shipping and inland waterways hold enormous potential for transforming India's transportation landscape. Recognizing this untapped opportunity, the government is actively encouraging investments and implementing strategies to integrate coastal shipping and inland waterways into the country's logistics ecosystem. Through seamless connectivity and optimized logistics networks, multimodality can significantly reduce overall logistics costs, enhance operational efficiency, and drive economic growth while improving connectivity and fostering a sustainable and efficient transport system that benefits both the economy and the environment. With the government's focus on boosting multimodality, investors can capitalize on these opportunities to participate in the growth of this promising subsector.

The Government of India envisions positioning the country as a global cruise hub for both ocean and river cruises. Further, leveraging the natural environment to develop water-based transport in urban cities offers an alternative for efficient commuting, reducing congestion, and minimizing fuel consumption.

India's vast coastline and diverse cultural heritage provide an ideal backdrop for the growth of cruise tourism. Promoting cruise tourism and urban water mobility in India presents a wealth of investment opportunities within the transportation sector. To promote investment encompassing various sectors, including infrastructure development, hospitality services, entertainment facilities, and operations, the government is committed to provide favorable ecosystem to encourage private sector participation. By seizing these investment opportunities in this subsector through various collaborations, stakeholders can contribute to India's economic growth, job creation, and environmental sustainability.

India's maritime sector holds a strong position as a hub for maritime professional services. As the sector expands, there is a growing demand for professional services, including dispute resolution, expeditious settlement of insurance claims and maritime financing. Collaboration and knowledge transfer in these areas will help fostering ease of financing and expedite dispute resolutions and insurance claim settlements.

The government recognizes need for such services and is committed to maximise India’s maritime strength in these areas. These investment and collaboration in maritime professional services will not only enhance the sector's capabilities but also position India as a preferred destination for maritime services, driving economic growth and job creation.

The government’s vision underlines the immense potential in maritime research, education, and skill development to enhance the lives of those working for maritime sector. By establishing innovation ecosystems, strategic partnerships, offering avenues for knowledge exchange and promoting start-ups, India can strengthen its reputation for maritime innovation.

To nurture a skilled and competent maritime workforce, the government emphasizes investment in maritime research, education, and skill development. This will drive the implementation of emerging technologies and contribute to a thriving maritime industry. This also presents significant opportunities for investors to support development of cutting-edge maritime technologies, foster collaboration between academia and industry, and create a skilled workforce that will propel the sector's growth and put India to the forefront of maritime education, research and skill development.

• 12 major ports
• Over 200 other than major ports
• 2500+ MTPA ports capacity
• ~1500 MTPA cargo handled in 2022- over 50% increase in cargo volume since 2014
• Moving ahead of the curve: 2 major ports in Global top 30 ports (Mundra Port and Jawaharlal Nehru Port)
• Impressive TAT of up to 0.9 days (JNPA) - ahead of many leading maritime nations
• Enhancing competitiveness – 51% of cargo handling at major ports by private sector
• Over 40,000 crore of PPP projects operationalization in last 9 years
• Operating sustainability – Over 100 MW of wind and solar power capacity at major ports

• 28 shipbuilding yards
• INR 3,500 – 4,000 Cr (~USD 500 million) of ship repair industry
• 20^th largest shipbuilding sector globally with rapid capability expansion
• 2^nd largest in global ship recycling
• Top 5 in trained manpower (17% growth in 3 years)
• 38^th rank in Logistics Performance Index

• 111 national waterways
• 22 operational national waterways
• Rapid expansion in the last 5 years – 19% annual growth in cargo volumes handled
• 126 MTPA cargo handled in 2022-23 - over 300% increase in cargo volume since 2014

• 203 lighthouses and 1 lightship
• 65 lighthouses earmarked for development of tourism on PPP mode
• 23 DGPS (16 upgraded to DGNSS)
• 64 radar beacons
• National AIS network of 87 physical shore stations

• 5 international cruise terminals atMumbai, Mormugao, Cochin, New Mangalore and Chennai with 6thone at Visakhapatnam nearing completion
• State-of-the-art river cruise facilities (river Ganga, Brahmaputra etc.)
• e-Visa implementation
• Rationalization of cruise tariff
• Standard Operation Procedure (SOP-2) for uniform, pre-defined processes in ports
• Over 4 lakh annual cruise passengers with potential to grow cruise traffic 10 times in the coming decade