Prime Minister Narendra Modi will deliver the keynote address at the Global Maritime CEO Forum during India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025, scheduled in Mumbai from October 27–31, Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced on Saturday.
Speaking at the Water Voyage Northeast 2025 conference in Guwahati, Sonowal said the prime minister’s presence would reaffirm India’s leadership in a sector undergoing “unprecedented transformation.” The event is expected to see participation from over 100 countries and more than 100,000 stakeholders. “India Maritime Week will not only be a confluence of ideas, but a confluence of confidence,” Sonowal remarked.
Cruise boost for the Northeast
Sonowal unveiled a Rs 250-crore project to build two luxury cruise ships for the Brahmaputra, being constructed at Hooghly Cochin Shipyard in Howrah. Scheduled to be launched in 2027, the ships are part of the Cruise Bharat Mission, which aims to expand river tourism and develop 100 river cruise terminals nationwide.
He said Assam is poised to emerge as a global river cruise destination, citing Forbes’ recent ranking of the Ganga cruise among the world’s top 10.
Maritime transformation since 2014
Highlighting reforms since 2014, Sonowal noted that port capacity has nearly doubled, cargo handling has touched 1,600 MMT, and turnaround time has been reduced to 22 hours. Inland waterways have expanded from five in 2014 to 30 today, with cargo movement rising from 18 million tonnes in 2013–14 to 145 million tonnes last year.
The minister emphasised India’s green transition through the Harit Sagar policy and Harit Nauka initiative, alongside the Jalvahak Scheme, which incentivises long-haul cargo transport on inland waterways with up to 35 per cent reimbursement of costs.
Northeast as a growth hub
Sonowal outlined over Rs 1,000 crore of investments in the Northeast’s inland waterways, including a Rs 239-crore ship repair facility at Pandu (ready by 2026), a direct road link from NH-27 to Pandu Port, and new tourist jetties at Guijan, Neamati, Bishwanath Ghat and Silghat. A Rs 188-crore Centre of Excellence is also coming up in Dibrugarh to train 5,000 maritime professionals.
“The Brahmaputra is not just a river, it is our lifeline. By developing cruise terminals, ship repair facilities, and skill centres, we are unlocking its full potential,” Sonowal said.
Rs 1 trillion opportunity
India Maritime Week will showcase investments worth nearly Rs 1 trillion in shipbuilding, port-led connectivity, and eco-friendly logistics. “This is the decade of maritime resurgence,” Sonowal said, projecting India to be among the world’s top five shipbuilding nations by 2047.
