Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 on Monday at NESCO Grounds in Mumbai. The five-day global event, to be held from October 27 to 31, is expected to be the largest maritime gathering in the world, bringing together ministers, industry leaders, and maritime experts from across the globe.
Ministers from 11 countries, along with their respective industry delegations, will participate in a series of high-level sessions, reflecting the growing international confidence in India’s maritime capabilities and its vision for the Blue Economy. The event is hosted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India, under the theme ‘Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision’.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said, “India Maritime Week is more than an event; it will position India as a global maritime hub, promote green and sustainable shipping, and enhance international maritime trade and connectivity.”
The inaugural session will be attended by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, and Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, alongside senior government officials and foreign dignitaries.
According to the Ministry, over 100,000 delegates and representatives from more than 85 countries are expected to attend. The event will host global maritime industry giants, policy think tanks, and international organisations, marking a convergence of strategic partnerships and investment discussions. Several state ministers and Lieutenant Governors, including those representing the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, will participate to highlight investment opportunities, regional maritime strengths, and the islands’ strategic role in India’s maritime security and connectivity network.
A major highlight of IMW 2025 will be the address by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the evening of October 29, where he will speak to global maritime leaders, industry stakeholders, and policymakers in a special plenary session. The Prime Minister will also chair a high-level global CEO forum featuring international heads of leading maritime companies to discuss innovation, trade facilitation, and sustainable ocean governance.
With more than 350 international speakers, the event will serve as a major platform for knowledge sharing, strategic dialogue, and policy formulation. Over 600 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the event, amounting to investment commitments exceeding ₹10 lakh crore, underscoring India’s growing position as a global maritime power.
Running parallel to the conference will be a comprehensive maritime exhibition featuring over 400 exhibitors showcasing technologies, innovations, and infrastructure in the shipping, port, and logistics sectors. IMW 2025 will also host 12 flagship events, including the 4th Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS 2025), QUAD Ports of the Future Conference, Sagarmanthan – The Great Oceans Dialogue, SheEO Conference, and the UNESCAP Asia-Pacific Dialogue.
In addition to four country-specific sessions featuring Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden, the event will include 11 state and Union Territory sessions, covering Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Assam, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
For the island territories, particularly the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the participation in IMW 2025 is seen as a significant opportunity to highlight their role as India’s maritime gateway to Southeast Asia, and to attract investment in port modernisation, cruise tourism, fisheries, and blue economy initiatives.
With its vast coastal presence and strategic island chains, India Maritime Week 2025 is expected to set a new benchmark in advancing global maritime collaboration, innovation, and sustainability, firmly positioning India as a leader in the international maritime domain.
