New Delhi: India is actively pursuing investment and technology transfer from South Korea and Japan to establish ship manufacturing and repair hubs in the country, aiming to strengthen its domestic ship supply chain. The nation, which currently accounts for less than 1% of the global shipbuilding market, is looking to compete with the market leaders—China, South Korea, and Japan—by creating world-class maritime infrastructure.
T.K. Ramachandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, announced that India is in talks with both South Korea and Japan regarding investment opportunities and technological collaboration. “We are looking at South Korea and Japan for investment and technology transfer to set up ship manufacturing and ship repair centres in India,” Ramachandran stated during the 20th Maritime State Development Council (MSDC) in Goa. The discussions at the MSDC also included plans for developing mega shipbuilding parks in several states across India.
To facilitate these ventures, Ramachandran noted that Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has written to the chief ministers of all Indian states, urging them to allocate land swiftly if Japanese or Korean companies express interest in setting up shipbuilding or ship repair clusters.
One of the major infrastructure projects underway is the construction of the Barwan Port near Dahanu in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. Once completed, this will become India’s largest port, designed to be a world-class maritime gateway. The project is expected to cost ₹76,000 crore, reflecting the government’s ambitious plans to position India as a key player in global shipbuilding and repair.
The development of these shipbuilding clusters and new ports is a critical part of India’s broader strategy to revitalise its maritime industry and boost its standing in the global shipping market. With support from established shipbuilding nations like South Korea and Japan, India hopes to turn these plans into a reality and significantly enhance its maritime capabilities.
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