Gujarat Woos Investors for 6 Greenfield Ports, 4 Shipyards at Mumbai Meet

Mumbai: The Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB) on August 19 held a stakeholder meet in Mumbai to showcase new investment opportunities in Gujarat’s ports, shipbuilding, ship repair and marine manufacturing sectors, with an ambitious target of increasing the state’s port capacity to more than 3,000 MMTPA by 2047.

The “Stakeholder Meet – Ports and Shipyards Development in Gujarat”, held at Taj Santacruz, was attended by around 200 stakeholders, including investors, port operators, shipbuilders, financial institutions and maritime experts from India and abroad.

GMB presented investment opportunities based on Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for six greenfield ports and four shipyards. The proposed mega shipbuilding cluster at Kuchdi was among the key attractions at the event.

Strong international participation

The event saw participation from representatives of more than 15 international organisations, along with diplomats and senior representatives from several countries. Consuls General of Indonesia, Italy and Norway, as well as representatives from Singapore, the Port of Rotterdam and the Republic of Korea, attended the meet.

The participation highlighted growing international interest in Gujarat’s maritime infrastructure and its potential as a global port and logistics hub.

Focus on ports and shipbuilding

GMB outlined its roadmap for developing new greenfield ports and expanding the state’s shipbuilding and marine manufacturing ecosystem. The proposed projects are aimed at creating an integrated maritime ecosystem covering ports, shipbuilding, ship repair and marine manufacturing.

In his address, GMB Vice Chairman and CEO Dr Ajay Kumar, IAS, spoke about the growth of Gujarat’s maritime sector and its next phase of expansion.

Harit Shukla, IAS, Principal Secretary, Ports and Transport Department, Gujarat, highlighted the importance of policy continuity, investor confidence and the state’s public-private partnership (PPP) model in driving maritime development.

Director General of Shipping Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, also addressed the gathering and highlighted the investment potential in Gujarat’s maritime sector.

The first session, titled “Investing in Gujarat’s Next Generation Ports”, focused on greenfield ports, the shipbuilding ecosystem and supporting infrastructure. The session was moderated by Mihir G. Shah, Partner/Principal and National Leader (Transport), EY, and featured industry leaders including Shashi Kiran Shetty of Allcargo Group, Dhruv Kotak of JM Baxi Group, Clint Carmichael of Gujarat Pipavav Port (APM Terminals) and Jibu Kurian Itti of DP World India.

The second session, “Investing in Gujarat’s Emerging Shipbuilding & Marine Manufacturing Ecosystem”, focused on opportunities in shipbuilding and marine manufacturing. Speakers included Rajat Goyal of SBI Ventures, Dr Hari Krishnan S. of Cochin Shipyard, Rear Admiral Vipin Kumar Saxena (Retd) of Swan Defence and Heavy Industries, and Cmde PR Hari (Retd) of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers.

The meet also provided prospective investors with an opportunity to discuss the EOI-based projects directly with GMB officials and other stakeholders. B2G meetings and networking sessions were held to provide information on project opportunities, investment processes and the next steps.

With its strategic coastline, established port infrastructure and industry-oriented policies, Gujarat is seeking to further strengthen its position as a major maritime, shipbuilding and marine manufacturing hub in India and globally. DeshGujarat