+
India to Greenlight Rs 250 Bn for Shipbuilding and Infrastructure
PORTS & SHIPPING

India to Greenlight Rs 250 Bn for Shipbuilding and Infrastructure

The Indian government is expected to approve a Maritime Development Fund (MDF) worth Rs 250 billion later this month. The fund is designed to provide long-term, low-cost financial support for indigenous shipbuilding and blue water infrastructure projects. This initiative aligns with the Make-in-India campaign, which seeks to establish India as a global manufacturing hub.

The MDF is anticipated to be structured as a corporate entity with the government holding a minority stake of at least 26 per cent. The majority shareholding will be allocated to multilateral financial institutions and global funds. It will offer various forms of financial support, including debt, equity, viability gap funding (VGF), and buyer credit. Although similar to the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID), the MDF will focus specifically on the maritime sector.

The fund will have a corpus of Rs 250 billion over seven years and will provide long-term loans of up to 25 years, matching the 30-year lifespan of vessels.

As of December 2023, India's fleet comprises 1,526 vessels with a gross tonnage (GT) of 14 million. Approximately 44 per cent of these vessels are over 20 years old, indicating a need for replacement in the near future.

This development follows inter-ministerial consultations, with a final cabinet note expected to be submitted for approval by the end of September.

The MDF aims to achieve several key objectives:

  • Promote domestic shipbuilding of all types and sizes to reduce dependence on foreign ships. Currently, India spends nearly $75 billion annually on leasing ships and controls only 2 per cent of the world's total tonnage.
  • Increase India's share of the global shipbuilding market from less than 1 per cent to 5 per cent, which is currently dominated by China, South Korea, and Japan.

The Indian government is expected to approve a Maritime Development Fund (MDF) worth Rs 250 billion later this month. The fund is designed to provide long-term, low-cost financial support for indigenous shipbuilding and blue water infrastructure projects. This initiative aligns with the Make-in-India campaign, which seeks to establish India as a global manufacturing hub.The MDF is anticipated to be structured as a corporate entity with the government holding a minority stake of at least 26 per cent. The majority shareholding will be allocated to multilateral financial institutions and global funds. It will offer various forms of financial support, including debt, equity, viability gap funding (VGF), and buyer credit. Although similar to the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID), the MDF will focus specifically on the maritime sector.The fund will have a corpus of Rs 250 billion over seven years and will provide long-term loans of up to 25 years, matching the 30-year lifespan of vessels.As of December 2023, India's fleet comprises 1,526 vessels with a gross tonnage (GT) of 14 million. Approximately 44 per cent of these vessels are over 20 years old, indicating a need for replacement in the near future.This development follows inter-ministerial consultations, with a final cabinet note expected to be submitted for approval by the end of September.The MDF aims to achieve several key objectives:Promote domestic shipbuilding of all types and sizes to reduce dependence on foreign ships. Currently, India spends nearly $75 billion annually on leasing ships and controls only 2 per cent of the world's total tonnage.Increase India's share of the global shipbuilding market from less than 1 per cent to 5 per cent, which is currently dominated by China, South Korea, and Japan.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

BMW Ventures Secures Rs 249.83 Million (mn) Steel Orders

BMW Ventures Limited said it has secured two purchase orders totalling Rs 249.83 million (mn) from Lata Projects Limited for the supply of TMT steel FE-550D grade for three units of 800 megawatt (MW) capacity at the USCTPP Adani project. The orders were disclosed to the stock exchanges under Regulation 30 of the SEBI Listing Regulations and carry a contract value inclusive of all taxes.\n\nThe company stated that the orders will be executed within eight weeks from the date of the purchase orders and that the contract provides for 100 per cent advance payment with specified guarantees. The supp..

Next Story
Real Estate

Housing Sales Dip in Top Eight Cities in Q2, Pune and Bengaluru Hit Hard

Housing sales across the top eight cities fell six point one per cent year-on-year to 91,729 units in the April-June quarter from 97,674 a year earlier, PropTiger’s Real Insight Residential report showed. The moderation reflected seasonal pre-monsoon effects and heightened buyer caution amid the US-Iran conflict. New launches rose six per cent to 89,161 units. The impact was concentrated in technology-driven markets, with Pune and Bengaluru among the hardest hit. Pune recorded the steepest annual decline at 20.8 per cent, with sales falling to 12,642 units, while Ahmedabad declined 20.2 per ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India And ADB Sign US$230 Million Loan To Modernise Chennai Water

The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) signed a US$230 million loan to modernise and expand water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Chennai. Saurabh Singh, Deputy Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs (DEA), signed on behalf of the Government of India and Mio Oka, Country Director of ADB’s India Resident Mission, signed for the lender. The engagement was guided by Baldeo Purushartha, Joint Secretary (ADB and Japan), DEA. The Chennai Climate-Resilient Water Security and Sewerage Project aims to improve access to safe and reliable water and sanitation citywide w..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code