Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, inaugurated the first ASEAN–India Cruise Dialogue aboard the MV Empress at Chennai Port. The event, attended by representatives from all ten ASEAN nations and Timor Leste, aims to strengthen maritime cooperation, improve cruise connectivity, and promote sustainable tourism across the Indo-Pacific.

Over 30 ASEAN delegates joined Indian officials, including Union Minister of State Shri Shantanu Thakur, for a two-day event with further sessions to be held in Mamallapuram, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In his address, Shri Sonowal emphasised India's commitment to develop 5,000 km of navigable waterways to enhance cruise links with ASEAN nations. Highlighting the Sagar Mala initiative, he projected one million cruise passengers by 2029, with ship calls having surged from 102 in 2013–14 to over 14,000 due to infrastructure upgrades and policy reforms.

He proposed an integrated cruise network linking Indian and ASEAN ports with real-time tracking systems and modern terminals. India aims to align this effort with the Viksit Bharat 2047 and ASEAN Community Vision 2045 to build a Cruise Tourism Corridor connecting culturally vibrant coastal cities in the Indian Ocean region.

The dialogue features thematic sessions on “ASEAN–India Cooperation Fund: Trade & Investment” and “ASEAN–India Cruise Tourist Circuits,” supporting India's Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

Shri Sonowal stated that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, India is advancing with holistic maritime reforms. He added that collaboration with ASEAN partners will catalyse economic growth, job creation, and cultural exchange, positioning the region as the cruise tourism hub of the Global South.

Minister of State Shri Shantanu Thakur echoed these views, highlighting ASEAN’s role in India’s Act East Policy and its contribution to shaping a prosperous Indo-Pacific.

Delegates will visit Mamallapuram’s shore temples and monuments, underlining heritage-led cruise tourism potential. Discussions are also addressing regulatory alignment, connectivity gaps, and sustainable growth models.

Key attendees included Secretary of MoPSW Shri T.K. Ramachandran, Special Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Joint Secretary Shri Venkatesapathy, IPA Chairman Shri Sunil Paliwal, Cruise Bharat Mission Advisor Shri Rajeev Jalota, and senior officials from the Tamil Nadu Government.