Sonowal Pushes Global Maritime Partnerships with Saudi Arabia, Belgium and Bhutan
On Day 2 of Sagarmanthan 2026, Sarbananda Sonowal held talks with Saudi Arabia, Belgium and Bhutan on port investment, green shipping, inland waterways and maritime skills.
NEW DELHI- India stepped up its efforts to expand global maritime partnerships on the second day of Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue 2026, with Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal holding bilateral talks with Saudi Arabia, Belgium and Bhutan on port investment, green shipping, regional connectivity and maritime skills.
The most significant development was Saudi Arabia’s expressed interest in investing in Indian port projects and the Maritime Development Fund (MDF). Discussions between Sonowal and a delegation from the Saudi Ports Authority, Mawani, covered possible Saudi participation in projects including Vadhavan and Galathea Bay, along with cooperation in shipbuilding, seafarer training and resilient supply chains.
The discussions reflect India’s broader effort to attract international investment and strengthen its maritime infrastructure while developing a more resilient shipping and supply-chain ecosystem.
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Push for green shipping with Belgium
In talks with Annick De Ridder, Flemish Minister for Mobility, Public Works, Ports and Sport, Sonowal proposed exploring a green shipping corridor between Indian ports and Antwerp-Bruges.
The discussions covered green fuels, smart-port technologies and dredging. VOC Port and the Port of Antwerp have also signed an agreement focusing on capacity building in green shipping and green fuel.
The proposed corridor aligns with India’s efforts to expand cleaner maritime transport and develop ports capable of supporting alternative green fuels.
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India also discussed strengthening maritime connectivity with Bhutan, with Sonowal highlighting National Waterway-2 and the Jogighopa terminal as potential gateways for Bhutanese trade to global markets.
The two sides discussed the potential of the Manas and Sankosh rivers and their connectivity with India’s national waterways to improve cargo movement. They also discussed maritime training opportunities for Bhutanese youth at the Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh, which is under development.
The Bhutan discussions are particularly relevant to India’s efforts to use inland waterways and multimodal connectivity to link the Northeast more closely with regional and international trade networks.
Sonowal said the discussions with Saudi Arabia, Belgium and Bhutan demonstrated the expanding geographical reach of India’s maritime partnerships, covering investment, green shipping, waterways and skills development.
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Youth and women at centre of maritime strategy
Beyond international partnerships, Day 2 of Sagarmanthan placed considerable emphasis on young people and women in India’s maritime sector.
At sessions titled “The Future is Blue: The Next Maritime Generation” and “Ocean Changemakers: Women, Youth and India’s Maritime Journey,” Sonowal heard from young Indians and women about their aspirations for the sector. An all-women tri-service sailing expedition also participated in the programme.
According to the ministry, the number of Indian seafarers has increased from 1.27 lakh to 3.23 lakh over the past 12 years, taking India from fifth place in 2015 to the world’s second-largest supplier of seafarers, with more than 12 per cent of the global workforce.
The number of active women seafarers has also increased from 1,599 in 2021 to 7,033 in 2025. The government aims to further increase women’s participation through its Mission 20% by 2030 initiative.
Sonowal said India’s maritime future would be shaped by its youth and highlighted efforts to expand skills, institutions and career opportunities in the sector.
India expands maritime engagement across regions
Day 2 also saw Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur hold bilateral discussions with Greece, Lithuania, Mozambique and Myanmar.
The talks covered maritime cooperation, direct shipping links, green ports, shipbuilding, ship repair, seafarer training, the next phase of Sittwe Port, cross-border inland water trade and maritime safety in the Bay of Bengal.
Addressing a press conference, Sonowal highlighted the growth of India’s maritime infrastructure over the past 12 years. According to figures presented by the ministry, port capacity increased from 1,561 MTPA to 2,817 MTPA, while cargo handled increased from 1,052 million tonnes to 1,668 million tonnes. Inland waterways cargo rose from 29 million tonnes to 218 million tonnes, while median container vessel turnaround time fell from 35 hours to 23 hours.
Sagarmanthan has also expanded its international participation, with more than 70 countries represented in the 2026 edition, including 10 visiting ministers, according to the ministry.
Sonowal said India was seeking to translate the dialogue into joint research, investment and technology partnerships, particularly in green hydrogen, ammonia and methanol, with the aim of developing Indian ports as green-fuel bunkering hubs.
The broader objective, he said, is to build partnerships for safer seas, greener shipping and shared prosperity.
