Sailing Towards a Brighter Maritime Future: India-Japan Collaboration
Sonowal Discusses Matters with Terada Yoshimichi, Japan's Deputy Minister, in Oslo Setting
In the bustling city of Oslo, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, locked horns with Terada Yoshimichi, Japan's Vice Minister for International Affairs, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLITT). The agenda was simple yet ambitious: to fortify the maritime bond between the two nations.
The encounter aimed to delve into a myriad of topics, with a focus on nurturing Japanese Shipyard investments, collaboration on port digitization and green port initiatives, boosting research and development cooperation, upskilling human resources, employment of Indian seafarers, disaster-resilient infrastructure, and enhanced connectivity to transform the remote Andaman Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands into smart, sustainable havens.
Sonowal expressed his admiration for Japan's expertise in island development, expressing eagerness for joint initiatives in renewable energy, smart mobility systems, and digital infrastructure. These endeavors would bolster their shared commitment to ecological conservation and regional maritime security.
The bilateral discussion also explored the potential for greenfield investments, including a partnership with Imabari Shipbuilding in Andhra Pradesh, as well as co-development of ports and maritime industrial clusters as clean energy hubs. Sonowal expressed India's keen interest in collaborating with renowned Japanese shipbuilding companies such as Imabari Shipbuilding, JMUC, Kanagawa Dockyard, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
With India's expanding maritime industry, Japanese shipyards were invited to invest in the country, further cementing their robust bilateral relationship. Leveraging collaboration on port digitization and green port initiatives would strengthen the resilience and sustainability of India's maritime logistics network.
India's stance on the matters at hand was unambiguous: valuing Japan as a reliable investor, the country looks forward to forging deeper maritime bonds, guided by shared democratic values, freedom, and a rich civilizational connection. India seeks Japan's participation in transformative initiatives, such as port infrastructure development, green shipping, shipbuilding, and digitalization under 'Maritime India Vision 2030' and 'Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.'
Plans are underway to construct the National Maritime Heritage Museum (NMHC) at Lothal in Gujarat, showcasing India's rich maritime history and legacy. Japan's collaboration would add immense value to this endeavor. Sonowal expressed optimism about forging the necessary MoU for this venture soon. The Minister extended his invitation to Vice Minister Terada Yoshimichi for participation at the India Maritime Week, 2025, in Mumbai between 27th and 31st October this year. A gathering of key stakeholders from the global maritime community, the event would serve as a platform for exploring investment opportunities, collaboration, innovation, and growth in the maritime sector.
The meeting concluded with an upbeat Sonowal accentuating the strong and deep Indo-Japanese ties, rooted in mutual trust and shared values. He remained optimistic about the potential to elevate maritime cooperation between the two nations, eyeing a sustainable future together, driven by advanced maritime cooperation that contributes meaningfully to global progress and mutual benefit for both countries.
- The Minister expressed his optimism for Japan's collaboration in the National Maritime Heritage Museum (NMHC) in Lothal, Gujarat, to showcase India's rich maritime history and legacy.
- India invited Japanese shipyards to invest in the expanding maritime industry, with collaboration on port digitization and green port initiatives aiming to strengthen the resilience and sustainability of India's maritime logistics network.
- The Union Minister expressed India's interest in collaborating with renowned Japanese shipbuilding companies for clean energy hub development, such as Imabari Shipbuilding, JMUC, Kanagawa Dockyard, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
- Sonowal shared his admiration for Japan's expertise in island development, particularly in renewable energy, smart mobility systems, and digital infrastructure, seeking joint initiatives on these fronts.
- In the general news, India looked forward to forging deeper maritime bonds with Japan, guided by shared democratic values, freedom, and a rich civilizational connection.
- The bilateral discussion also explored the potential for greenfield investments, including a partnership with Imabari Shipbuilding in Andhra Pradesh, and co-development of ports and maritime industrial clusters as clean energy hubs.
