The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways opened Sagarmanthan 2026, the third edition of the Great Oceans Dialogue, an international conference on maritime cooperation and ocean governance. The event, organised with the Observer Research Foundation, brought together ministers, naval leaders, port authorities and maritime experts from over 30 countries across five continents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called for a free, open, secure and rules-based maritime order that serves the interests of all nations.
Key facts
- Sagarmanthan 2026 is the third edition of the Great Oceans Dialogue
- Participating countries include Australia, Belgium, Bhutan, European Union nations, France, Norway, South Korea, United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Egypt, Seychelles and Ecuador
- Multilateral organisations present include the OECD, UN Trade and Development, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and African Union
- Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal presented Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047
- Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur and Secretary Vijay Kumar also addressed the conference
- India-EU Green Shipping Corridor formally launched an industry coalition for green shipping implementation
- India-Korea Comprehensive Framework for Partnership in Shipbuilding, Shipping and Maritime Logistics discussed at a dedicated roundtable
What India is proposing
India presented itself as a guide for nations seeking a maritime order based on trust and shared prosperity. Union Minister Sonowal described India’s approach as rooted in its civilisational history, noting that Indian sailors historically traded as partners rather than conquerors. He positioned India as a Vishwaguru, or world teacher, on ocean matters, offering knowledge, capacity and talent to shape a global ocean agenda.
The Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 frames India’s maritime strategy as a contribution to global stability. It includes plans for resilient supply chains, green shipping corridors, a world-class shipbuilding ecosystem and a trained seafaring workforce. Minister Thakur highlighted that India’s major ports have nearly doubled their capacity and now operate under modern maritime laws suited to regional and global trade needs.
Key initiatives discussed
The India-EU Green Shipping Corridor, formally launched at the conference, aims to connect India’s green fuel production capacity with European demand. The initiative will focus on green ammonia and methanol trade and help reduce maritime emissions. A pre-feasibility study was launched in 2025, and an industry coalition is now moving towards practical implementation by bringing government and private sector actors together.
India and South Korea reviewed their maritime partnership framework agreed in April 2026. The two countries are advancing cooperation in shipbuilding ecosystems, maritime logistics, port-led development and supply chain integration. The discussion examined how this partnership can strengthen maritime connectivity in the Indo-Pacific and build more resilient regional systems.
The conference examined economic corridors as platforms for trade and investment. Sessions focused on the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), looking at the governance and institutional frameworks needed to turn strategic vision into functioning trade infrastructure. Participants discussed how to build mechanisms that support investment, interoperability and adaptability to geopolitical change.
Focus on sustainable ocean development
A session on the OECD Blue Economy Scoreboards explored how countries can measure progress towards sustainable blue economies. The framework helps governments benchmark performance, identify priorities and coordinate policies across sectors to support evidence-based ocean development strategies.
Africa’s maritime potential featured prominently. The conference examined how African maritime corridors can be transformed from transit routes into engines of economic growth and global trade resilience. Discussions highlighted initiatives such as the Lobito Corridor and regional connectivity investments as ways to diversify trade routes and unlock the blue economy.
What this means for you
For businesses involved in shipping, maritime trade, port operations or shipbuilding, these initiatives signal opportunities for partnerships and investment in India’s expanding port infrastructure and green shipping sectors. Green fuel producers and maritime technology companies may find new markets through the India-EU corridor initiative.
For countries dependent on maritime trade, India’s emphasis on rules-based order and trusted partnerships offers a framework for reducing disruption and building more resilient supply chains. The discussion of economic corridors and supply chain integration affects trading nations across Asia, Europe and Africa.
For citizens in maritime nations, policies emerging from such dialogues will shape employment in shipping and ports, investment in maritime technology, and the transition towards sustainable ocean practices that affect climate and environmental goals.
What happens next
Sagarmanthan 2026 continues with further ministerial and expert sessions scheduled beyond the first day. The India-EU Green Shipping Corridor moves from coalition formation towards implementation and investment mobilisation. The India-Korea maritime partnership framework will guide ongoing sectoral cooperation in shipbuilding, shipping and logistics.