Great Nicobar project will boost India’s maritime global trade, says Amit Shah

India aims to be among the top five ship-building countries and significantly increase the port-handling capability by building new mega ports, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Mumbai on Monday (October 27, 2025), adding that the proposed Great Nicobar project will boost the country’s maritime global trade multiple times.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the fourth edition of the India Maritime Week 2025.

The $5-billion Great Nicobar infrastructure project, which will include a power plant, transshipment port and airport, has been criticised by activists and local population, citing environmental concerns and violation of forest rights.

Strategic location

He said that the government plans to increase the country’s port handling capacity to 10,000 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) from the present 2,700 MTPA (major and non-major ports combined). India’s maritime strength was due to its strategic location, he said. “Our coastline of over 11,500 km is spread across 13 coastal States. Maritime business contributes to 60 per cent of our GDP [Gross Domestic Product]. Today, over 100 countries are participating in the India Maritime Week. We have 350 speakers, over 500 companies, over one lakh delegates and we expect an investment of ₹10 lakh crore,” he said.

“India’s maritime strength lies in cooperation and global partnership, deeply rooted in its rich maritime tradition. We believe in co-operation, rather than competition. India has a long maritime tradition of 5,000 years,” he said.

“There has been a 118 per cent increase in coastal shipping in the last 10 years. We have experienced 150 per cent growth in cargo handling. The turnaround time is being reduced. We are reaching global standards in it,” he said.

Mr. Shah highlighted India’s growing leadership in the Indo-Pacific. “Leveraging its maritime position, democratic stability, and naval capability, India is acting as a bridge between the Indo-Pacific and the Global South, fostering development, security, and environmental progress,” he said.

Logistics cost

Speaking at the event, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said India would soon bring down the logistics cost to single digit to nine per cent. “It is the logistics cost that drives the development and economic progress of the country. We are still at 16 per cent against China and Europe’s 8 per cent and 12 per cent respectively,” he said.

He also emphasised on the need for an innovative, simple, viable, efficient and credible financial model to raise capital for ship-building.

Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, said 680 memoranda of understanding (MoUs) worth ₹10 lakh crore were slated to be signed during the India Maritime Week. “Over 85 nations and 355 global speakers will be part of this event. By 2047, India will be one of the top five ship-building nations in the world. This is a watershed moment in India’s maritime story. We will set the future of the country’s blue economy,” he said.