India and Japan to foster maritime ties with focus on shipbuilding

By Admin

03 Jun, 2025

In a strategic move to boost bilateral maritime cooperation, India and Japan are setting sail toward deeper engagement in shipbuilding, port modernization, and sustainable maritime development. This collaboration was recently highlighted at a high-level meeting in Oslo, Norway, where India’s Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, met with Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs, Terada Yoshimichi.

Strengthening Shipbuilding Partnerships

A key highlight of the discussion was the focus on shipbuilding collaboration with Japan’s top maritime firms. Indian shipyards could soon see investment from prominent Japanese companies such as Imabari Shipbuilding, JMUC, Kanagawa Dockyard, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. These partnerships aim to strengthen India’s shipbuilding capacity, with particular emphasis on greenfield initiatives like Imabari’s potential project in Andhra Pradesh.

Sonowal also invited Japan’s major shipping lines—NYK Line, MOL, and K Line—to explore business opportunities in India's rapidly growing maritime economy. These collaborations are set to boost manufacturing, technology transfer, and innovation in India's shipping sector.

Smart Islands and Green Ports

Another key agenda was the transformation of Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands into Smart Islands. Drawing on Japan’s advanced expertise in island development, both countries aim to integrate renewable energy, smart mobility, digital infrastructure, and disaster-resilient systems. The initiative is part of a broader goal to develop green ports and promote ecologically sustainable infrastructure, while enhancing maritime security in the region.

Maritime Training and Seafarer Upskilling

India’s strong seafaring workforce—over 154,000 trained seafarers—was recognized as a significant asset. To harness this potential, Sonowal proposed structured maritime training programs by Japanese companies to further upskill Indian engineers and workers. Vice Minister Terada expressed Japan’s interest in tapping into India’s skilled workforce to meet future maritime demands.

Heritage and Cultural Cooperation

In a nod to India’s rich maritime legacy, Sonowal also invited Japan to participate in the National Maritime Heritage Museum (NMHC) being developed in Lothal, Gujarat. The museum will celebrate centuries of India’s seafaring tradition and create avenues for joint cultural and educational initiatives. An early MoU is expected to formalize this partnership.

Looking Ahead: India Maritime Week 2025

To deepen this engagement, Sonowal extended an invitation to Terada for India Maritime Week 2025, scheduled to be held in Mumbai from October 27–31, 2025. This event will serve as a platform for exploring investment and innovation opportunities in the maritime sector.

A Vision Rooted in Shared Values

The discussions in Oslo reaffirmed the strong Indo-Japanese bond, grounded in shared values of democracy, freedom, and mutual respect. With a shared commitment to regional maritime security, the nations pledged continued collaboration through multilateral frameworks such as the Quad and the India-Japan-Australia Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI).

As India and Japan navigate new waters together, their growing maritime partnership promises to reshape the future of shipbuilding, port development, and seafaring excellence in the Indo-Pacific region.