Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal stated that with a workforce of 3 lakh, India has become one of the top 3 suppliers of seafarers across the globe.
Over a decade ago, India boasted a seafarer workforce of only 1.25 lakh, which has now more than doubled. In his address at the 10th convocation of the Indian Maritime University (IMU) in Chennai, Minister Sonowal talked about the growing opportunities in navigation, ship operations, logistics, and allied maritime industries within India as well as across the world.
Praising the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Sonowal stated that the new graduates of IMU are going to enter an industry that has been revitalised over he past decade and ” is central to India’s economic, strategic, and global ambitions.”
“Careers in shipping, ports, shipbuilding, logistics, research, and green maritime technologies have never been more diverse or in demand as we move towards becoming one of the global leaders in the maritime sector under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi,” said Sonowal.
Through the ‘Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047,’ the Modi government has indeed invested heavily in India’s maritime industry, revitalising shipbuilding and recycling. Through investments across India’s port cities and activities, Sonowal believes that India’s seafarer workforce will only grow in size.
“These transformative measures are expected to generate 25–30 lakh direct and indirect jobs in shipbuilding, ports, shipping, logistics, and allied industries. India’s maritime resurgence is not only about economic growth, but also about creating meaningful careers for our youth in a Viksit Bharat and an Atmanirbhar Bharat,” the minister stated.
“Graduates stepping into this sector carry the responsibility of upholding ethics, embracing innovation, and navigating technological and environmental challenges, contributing directly to India’s emergence as a maritime powerhouse and a global leader in the blue economy.”
