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.

Infrastructure Urban

05 Nov 2025

TBO Tek Q2 Profit Climbs 12%, Revenue Surges 26% YoY

TBO Tek Limited one of the world’s largest travel distribution platforms, reported a solid performance for Q2 FY26 with a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue to Rs 5.68 billion, reflecting broad-based growth and improving profitability.The company recorded a Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of Rs 8,901 crore, up 12 per cent YoY, driven by strong performance across Europe, MEA, and APAC regions. Adjusted EBITDA before acquisition-related costs stood at Rs 1.04 billion, up 16 per cent YoY, translating into an 18.32 per cent margin compared to 16.56 per cent in Q1 FY26. Profit after tax r..

Infrastructure Energy

05 Nov 2025

Northern Graphite, Rain Carbon Secure R&D Grant for Greener Battery Materials

Northern Graphite Corporation and Rain Carbon Canada Inc, a subsidiary of Rain Carbon Inc, have jointly received up to C$860,000 (€530,000) in funding under the Canada–Germany Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme to develop sustainable battery anode materials.The two-year, C$2.2 million project aims to transform natural graphite processing by-products into high-performance, battery-grade anode material (BAM). Supported by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Programme (NRC IRAP) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs a..

Infrastructure Urban

05 Nov 2025

Antony Waste Q2 Revenue Jumps 16%; Subsidiary Wins Rs 3,200 Cr WtE Projects

Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited (AWHCL), a leading player in India’s municipal solid waste management sector, announced a 16 per cent year-on-year increase in total operating revenue to Rs 2.33 billion for Q2 FY26. The growth was driven by higher waste volumes, escalated contracts, and strong operational execution.EBITDA rose 18 per cent to Rs 570 million, with margins steady at 21.6 per cent, while profit after tax stood at Rs 173 million, up 13 per cent YoY. Revenue from Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Transportation (MSW C&T) reached Rs 1.605 billion, and MSW Processing re..