Women's participation in the maritime sector has seen a sharp spike of 340 per cent from 2020, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, said on Thursday.
This jump in the number of women entering the maritime sector marks a key milestone in the government's push to modernise it with a more inclusive, future-ready workforce.
Addressing the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue in New Delhi, Sonowal explained how initiatives such as Sagar Mein Samman enabled women to not just be included in the workforce, but also to actively seek leadership positions as well.
He was joined by Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful and Yemen's Minister of State, Waleed Mohammed Al Qadimi.
This iteration of the event is hosted by India in its capacity as Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for 2025–27.
Themed 'Indian Ocean Region in a Transforming World', the forum brings together ministers, policymakers, academics, and industry leaders to deliberate on maritime security, the blue economy, disaster risk management and women’s empowerment.
Women's empowerment has been identified as a key cost-cutting priority area under the forum's key focus areas of innovation, openness, resilience, and adaptability.
The shipping minister also explained that the exponential surge in women’s participation was a part of India’s overall maritime vision combining economic growth and social empowerment.
He noted that despite technological advancements, the “human element” was still central to India’s maritime strategy, alongside efforts to enhance security, connectivity, and sustainability.
“The Indian Ocean is not just a geographic space, but a global lifeline ... Its importance to global energy flows, trade and supply chains calls for stronger cooperation, resilience and inclusivity," he said at the event.
He added that India’s maritime strategy was also aligned with its larger frameworks such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring equitable growth.
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