India Unveils Rs 600 Billion Maritime Finance Push

26 Jul 2025 CW Team

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised India's strategic progress, noting that average port turnaround times have dropped from four days to under one, and container capacity has surged over 70 per cent. With 100 per cent FDI permitted under the automatic route, streamlined customs, and IFSC access via GIFT City, India now offers a compelling maritime investment ecosystem.

A key announcement was the proposed Maritime Development Fund (MDF)—a blended finance platform to reduce capital costs and attract long-term investment into shipyards, coastal projects, and inland waterways. Developed in consultation with over 100 global stakeholders, the fund aims to drive capital infusion into greenfield and brownfield shipbuilding clusters.

Minister of State Shantanu Thakur underscored the need for long-term financial architecture, stating the summit was “about building trust” and turning policy into shared progress.

Policy initiatives discussed included extending the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS), recognising large vessels as infrastructure, and enabling ship leasing through GIFT City. The Merchant Shipping and Coastal Shipping Bills are under way, while the recently passed Bills of Lading Bill 2025 aims to simplify legal shipping frameworks.

The summit also introduced the Financial Digital Maturity Matrix (FDMM)—a tool to assess and enhance digital financial infrastructure at ports, making them investor-ready.

Discussions spanned innovative financing models, sustainable shipbuilding, insurance reforms, port digitalisation, and regulatory support for ship leasing. Senior MoPSW officials, including Secretary T.K. Ramachandran and Special Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha, highlighted a four-pillar maritime strategy focused on finance, capacity, demand generation, and skills.

The event saw participation from global embassies (Japan, Norway, Netherlands, Singapore, among others), state maritime boards from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, and major firms like Cochin Shipyard, SCI, AP Moller-Maersk, BEML, and Lloyd’s Register. Key financial institutions included NaBFID, NIIF, and Climate Fund Managers.

The Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW) hosted the Maritime Financing Summit 2025 in New Delhi, bringing together over 250 stakeholders including policymakers, industry leaders, global investors, and financial institutions. The summit, held under the ambit of Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047, focused on transforming India into a leading maritime power with strengthened financial, infrastructural, and technological capabilities.Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal emphasised India's strategic progress, noting that average port turnaround times have dropped from four days to under one, and container capacity has surged over 70 per cent. With 100 per cent FDI permitted under the automatic route, streamlined customs, and IFSC access via GIFT City, India now offers a compelling maritime investment ecosystem.A key announcement was the proposed Maritime Development Fund (MDF)—a blended finance platform to reduce capital costs and attract long-term investment into shipyards, coastal projects, and inland waterways. Developed in consultation with over 100 global stakeholders, the fund aims to drive capital infusion into greenfield and brownfield shipbuilding clusters.Minister of State Shantanu Thakur underscored the need for long-term financial architecture, stating the summit was “about building trust” and turning policy into shared progress.Policy initiatives discussed included extending the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme (SBFAS), recognising large vessels as infrastructure, and enabling ship leasing through GIFT City. The Merchant Shipping and Coastal Shipping Bills are under way, while the recently passed Bills of Lading Bill 2025 aims to simplify legal shipping frameworks.The summit also introduced the Financial Digital Maturity Matrix (FDMM)—a tool to assess and enhance digital financial infrastructure at ports, making them investor-ready.Discussions spanned innovative financing models, sustainable shipbuilding, insurance reforms, port digitalisation, and regulatory support for ship leasing. Senior MoPSW officials, including Secretary T.K. Ramachandran and Special Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha, highlighted a four-pillar maritime strategy focused on finance, capacity, demand generation, and skills.The event saw participation from global embassies (Japan, Norway, Netherlands, Singapore, among others), state maritime boards from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, and major firms like Cochin Shipyard, SCI, AP Moller-Maersk, BEML, and Lloyd’s Register. Key financial institutions included NaBFID, NIIF, and Climate Fund Managers.

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