Strengthening Gujarat’s Maritime Connect
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel Invited to India Maritime Week 2025 by DPA Chairman Sushil Kumar Singh
In a move aimed at strengthening Gujarat’s growing prominence in India’s maritime landscape, Shri Sushil Kumar Singh, IRSME, Chairman of Deendayal Port Authority (DPA), extended a formal invitation to Shri Bhupendra Patel, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat, to participate in India Maritime Week 2025. The invitation was extended on behalf of Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Hon’ble Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).
The meeting, held in Gandhinagar, highlighted the pivotal role Gujarat plays as India’s maritime gateway. With its extensive coastline, world-class port infrastructure, and strategic location, the state has emerged as a key player in advancing India’s port-led development agenda under the Sagarmala Programme.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Sushil Kumar Singh emphasized that India Maritime Week 2025, to be held in New Delhi, will serve as a premier platform to showcase the country’s maritime strength, policy initiatives, and global partnerships. He noted that Gujarat’s contribution to the sector—through its ports, shipyards, and maritime clusters—would be prominently featured.
“Gujarat is at the heart of India’s maritime transformation. The participation of the Hon’ble Chief Minister will not only underscore the state’s achievements but also inspire greater collaboration between central and state agencies for the sector’s holistic growth,” Singh remarked.
India Maritime Week, organized annually by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, brings together leading domestic and international stakeholders from the maritime and logistics ecosystem. The 2025 edition is expected to host ministers, diplomats, industry leaders, and port authorities from across the globe to deliberate on issues shaping the future of shipping, ports, and coastal development.
Gujarat’s presence is expected to be significant, given its reputation as the country’s maritime powerhouse. The state is home to some of India’s busiest and most advanced ports, including Deendayal Port (Kandla), Mundra, Pipavav, and Dahej. Deendayal Port, in particular, has consistently ranked as India’s top cargo-handling port, contributing substantially to the nation’s trade volumes.
Under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel’s leadership, Gujarat has continued to build on its maritime heritage with a focus on port modernization, logistics connectivity, and green port initiatives. The state government’s push for developing coastal industrial corridors, shipbuilding parks, and renewable energy integration at ports aligns with the national vision for sustainable maritime growth.
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, through the Ministry, has been spearheading multiple initiatives to strengthen India’s port infrastructure and promote domestic shipping. India Maritime Week 2025 will act as a convergence point for these efforts, highlighting advancements under programmes like Sagarmala, Harit Sagar (Green Port Policy), and the Maritime India Vision 2030.
Officials from the Deendayal Port Authority noted that the event would also facilitate discussions on new investment opportunities in Gujarat’s maritime ecosystem, including port expansion, ship repair, coastal shipping, and inland waterways. The port’s recent efforts in capacity enhancement, mechanization, and sustainability initiatives have positioned it as a model for efficiency and innovation.
With India aspiring to become a global maritime hub, Gujarat’s participation at India Maritime Week 2025 will underscore how regional strength can power national ambitions. The state’s proactive policies, coupled with central government initiatives, are transforming the western coast into a vibrant corridor of trade, logistics, and maritime excellence.
The formal invitation to Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel marks a symbolic reaffirmation of Gujarat’s leadership in the maritime domain and its enduring partnership with the Union government in steering India’s blue economy towards new horizons.
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