In a bid to strengthen bilateral maritime cooperation, India’s Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, met Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs, Terada Yoshimichi, of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport & Tourism (MLIT) in Oslo. The two sides discussed shipbuilding investments, port digitisation, green port projects, and human capital development.

Key discussions included sustainable maritime technologies, disaster-resilient infrastructure, and the development of India’s island territories like Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep into smart islands. Minister Sonowal highlighted opportunities in renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and smart mobility solutions, citing Japan’s experience in island development.

India invited leading Japanese shipbuilders such as Imabari Shipbuilding, JMUC, Kanagawa Dockyard, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to explore joint ventures with Indian yards. Greenfield investment prospects, including Imabari’s proposal in Andhra Pradesh, were discussed, alongside co-development of maritime industrial clusters.

Minister Sonowal urged Japan’s major shipping companies—NYK Line, MOL, and K Line—to invest in India’s growing maritime ecosystem. He stressed port digitisation and green port efforts under India’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

Acknowledging long-standing India–Japan ties, Sonowal underlined collaboration within the Quad framework and the Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI), applauding Japan’s support for global sustainability forums like the International Solar Alliance and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure.

Vice Minister Yoshimichi expressed Japan’s keen interest in maritime cooperation with India, noting past engagement in railway infrastructure and current plans to collaborate on shipbuilding and seafarer training.

India proposed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to foster collaboration between Cochin Shipyard Limited, Indian universities, and public agencies. The minister also emphasised the role of Indian seafarers, stating India’s existing base of over 154,000 trained seafarers could supplement Japan’s maritime workforce.

India’s National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal was also discussed, with India seeking Japan’s partnership for the project. The NMHC is envisioned as a world-class centre for maritime heritage, tourism, and education.

Minister Sonowal extended an invitation to Japan to participate in India Maritime Week 2025, scheduled in Mumbai from 27th to 31st October, aiming to attract global stakeholders and investors to the maritime sector.

Concluding the session, Minister Sonowal reaffirmed India's goal to secure investments worth five trillion yen (around Rs 3.2 trillion) from Japan by 2027 and to advance joint efforts for a sustainable, innovation-driven maritime future.