Media Release
Mumbai, Oct 28: The union minister for home affairs and cooperation, Amit Shah, on Tuesday inaugurated India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 at the NESCO Exhibition Centre, marking the commencement of the world’s largest maritime gathering.
The ceremony was held in the august presence of Sarbananda Sonowal, union minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways; Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra; Dr Pramod Sawant, chief minister of Goa; Shantanu Thakur, minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways; and deputy chief ministers of Maharashtra, Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar.
Held under the theme 'Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision', IMW 2025 brings together over 100,000+ participants from 85+ countries, featuring 500+ exhibitors, 350+ speakers, and 12 parallel conferences over five days. The event reaffirms India’s maritime resurgence and its vision to become a global maritime superpower by 2047.
In his inaugural address, Amit Shah described the maritime sector as a symbol of “India’s strength, stability, and sustainability.” He said, “This is India’s maritime moment—transforming the Gateway of India into the Gateway of the World.” He lauded the reforms under Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, positioning India as a global maritime hub connecting the Indo-Pacific and the Global South.
Sarbananda Sonowal hailed IMW 2025 as a 'turning point in India’s maritime journey', highlighting that India’s port capacity has doubled to 2,700 MTPA, cargo handling has risen to 1,640 MMT, and inland waterway cargo has grown from 6.9 MMT to 145 MMT over the past decade.
NMPA showcases maritime leadership at IMW 2025
The New Mangalore Port Authority, celebrating its Golden Jubilee Year, made a strong mark at IMW 2025 as a platinum sponsor, highlighting its contributions to India’s blue economy.
On Day 2, NMPA signed 18 MoUs worth Rs 52,599 crore, with key industry leaders — including MRPL, Aegis Vopak, Reliance, HPCL, GMPL and IPRCL, underscoring robust investment potential on India’s West Coast.
During the Karnataka session on 'Exploring PPP Synergies for a Sustainable Blue Economy', Dr A V Ramana, chairman, NMPA, emphasized the evolution of PPP models that have transformed port operations through innovation, efficiency, and sustainability. He highlighted NMPA’s successful PPP projects, including mechanised terminals and the multi-specialty hospital built under the PPP model — a first among Indian ports.
Later, chairing the session on 'Passenger Experience, Sustainability & Policy Framework' in the cruise tourism segment, Dr Ramana discussed India’s growing cruise potential and the need for seamless passenger experiences, digitalisation, shore-power adoption, and green tourism infrastructure.
During his visit to the NMPA Pavilion, Karnataka State Port Minister Mankal Vaidya praised chairman, NMPAs’ leadership, noting that NMPA’s profitability has quadrupled between 2019 and 2025, making it one of India’s most efficient and sustainable ports.
India Maritime Week 2025 continues till October 31, hosting 100+ thematic sessions, ministerial dialogues, and state-led showcases, reaffirming India’s commitment to sustainable growth under the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.