India, the world’s most populous country, has ambitious economic goals, which also include the maritime industry. It aims to grow from a current market share of less than 1% to become one of the ten largest shipbuilding nations in the world by 2030 and to advance into the top five by 2047. It has set similar goals for the growth of its own merchant fleet.
In line with this, port capacities are to quadruple by 2047. Just recently, the country’s first deep-water transshipment port, Vizhinjam, was put into operation at the southern tip of the subcontinent. Further “megaports” are to follow, including the Vadhavan port in the state of Maharashtra, which is already under construction on an artificial island and is expected to handle over 23 million TEU per year.
These dynamic developments also open opportunities for the German maritime industry. They also offer a chance to reduce dependence on China in shipbuilding.
DMZ Managing Director Dr Matthias Catón took part in the ORF Sagarmanthan Oceans Dialogue and India Maritime Week, which took place simultaneously in Mumbai at the end of October. At the invitation of the think tank ORF and The Shipping Corporation of India, he spoke on various panels on maritime security and geopolitical challenges, economic cooperation between the EU and India in the maritime sector, and the training of seafarers. He also moderated an event on the topic of ports in India.
Catón also held talks with the India Maritime Centre on possible joint projects.
Stream for the panel discussion “How India’s Coastline Is Powering a New Era of Trade”
Stream for the panel discussion “As Trade Routes Shift, Can India Lead the New Maritime Order?”
Stream for the panel discussion “Can the EU and India Build a New Indo-Pacific Order?”
Further impressions in pictures
