PM Modi to address Global Maritime CEO Forum at India Maritime Week; Rs 250 cr luxury cruise ships for Brahmaputra by 2027

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaSeptember 2, 2025

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai from October 27–31, where he will deliver the keynote address at the Global Maritime CEO Forum, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) Sarbananda Sonowal announced on Tuesday.

Speaking at the Water Voyage Northeast 2025 conference in Guwahati, Sonowal described the upcoming event as “a historic opportunity to showcase India’s maritime strength to the world.” The conclave is expected to draw 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 said. “Under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership, the world now sees India as a trusted partner and a rising maritime power.”

Highlighting a major development for Assam, Sonowal revealed that two luxury cruise ships worth Rs 250 crore are under construction at Hooghly Cochin Shipyard in Howrah, Kolkata. Expected to be operational by 2027, the vessels will be deployed on the Brahmaputra under the Cruise Bharat Mission, opening a new chapter for river tourism in the Northeast.

“The Brahmaputra is not just a river, it is our lifeline. By developing cruise terminals, ship repair facilities, and skill centres, we are unlocking the full potential of this mighty river,” Sonowal added.

Sonowal underlined how flagship programmes such as Sagarmala, Maritime India Vision (MIV) 2030, and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision (MAKV) 2047 have transformed the sector. India’s port capacity has nearly doubled, cargo handling has touched 1,600 million metric tonnes (MMT), and turnaround time at ports has reduced to 22 hours.

Inland waterways have expanded from five operational routes in 2014 to 30 today. Cargo movement on waterways has surged from 18 MMT in 2013–14 to 145 MMT last year.

“These are not just statistics, they are milestones of transformation,” the Minister said.

Emphasising sustainability, Sonowal pointed to the Harit Sagar policy and Harit Nauka initiative, which promote renewable energy, clean fuels, and eco-friendly inland vessels. He also highlighted the Jalvahak Scheme, launched in December 2024, which offers up to 35% reimbursement of operating expenditure for cargo movement over 300 km on select national waterways.

“With Jalvahak and fixed-day sailings, we are not just moving cargo, we are moving confidence,” Sonowal said.

More than Rs 1,000 crore has been invested in inland waterway infrastructure in the Northeast, Sonowal informed. A Rs 239 crore ship repair facility at Pandu—the first in the region—will be ready by 2026, while a Rs 180 crore approach road linking NH-27 to Pandu Port will be operational by September 2025.

To promote cruise tourism, Rs 299 crore is being invested in tourist jetties at Guijan, Neamati, Bishwanath Ghat, and Silghat. In Dibrugarh, a Rs 188 crore Regional Centre of Excellence is being developed to train 5,000 maritime professionals.

Sonowal announced that India Maritime Week 2025 will unveil investment opportunities worth nearly Rs 1 trillion across shipbuilding, port connectivity, coastal development, and logistics.

“By 2047, our goal is to handle 10,000 MMT of EXIM cargo and 500 MMT through inland waterways. India will be among the world’s top five shipbuilding nations and command 20% of global ship recycling,” he said.

The Minister noted that Forbes recently ranked the Ganga river cruise among the world’s top 10, adding that Assam is poised to emerge as a global river cruise hub.

The Water Voyage Northeast 2025 conference, organised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Indian Ports Association (IPA), drew over 240 participants, including cruise operators, traders, and cargo vessel owners.

Sonowal urged stakeholders to take part in the Mumbai event: “India Maritime Week 2025 is not just an event, it is a movement—towards a maritime India that is globally competitive, digitally empowered, environmentally sustainable, and socially inclusive.”

The event was also attended by Assam Transport Minister Jogen Mohan, MoPSW Secretary TK Ramachandran, and IWAI Chairman Sunil Kumar Singh, among others.