Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the fourth edition of India Maritime Week on Monday at the NESCO Exhibition Centre in Mumbai. The five-day event, organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways in partnership with the Indian Ports Association, will continue until October 31.

During his address, Shah said, “India's maritime industry serves as a vital bridge between the Global South and international trade.” He underlined India’s growing maritime strength, saying it could play a crucial role in driving the economy by contributing nearly 60 per cent to the country’s GDP.

He pointed out that India has a coastline of more than 11,000 kilometres and includes 13 coastal states and Union Territories. Shah also mentioned that the country has 23.7 lakh square kilometres of exclusive economic zones and special economic zones that attract investors and manufacturers from around the world.

“With around 800 million people living in coastal regions, nearly half of India’s population depends directly or indirectly on maritime activities,” he said.

He added that the 28 countries in the Indian Ocean region together account for about 12 per cent of global exports. “Today, two-thirds of global trade travels through the Indo-Pacific sea route, and 90% of India's trade also travels by sea,” he said.

“Through a maritime summit, we are opening up this full potential to global investors and champions of the global maritime industry,” Shah added.

Highlighting major upcoming projects, Shah spoke about the Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra, saying it would rank among the top ten ports in the world in the coming years.

On the same day, Shah also launched a fleet of modern Deep-Sea Fishing Vessels at Mazagon Dock in Mumbai, giving a strong push to India’s cooperative-driven fisheries sector. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol were also present at the event.

Shah handed over the keys of the new vessels to the beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana, calling it a major step toward India’s goals of self-reliance, sustainability, and cooperative growth in deep-sea fishing.

Each vessel, costing around Rs 1.2 crore, has been jointly funded by the Government of Maharashtra, the National Cooperative Development Corporation, and the Union Fisheries Department. The initiative aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of building an Aatmanirbhar Bharat and strengthening India’s Blue Economy by modernising the marine fisheries sector and expanding deep-sea operations.

To take this effort forward, a Joint Working Group has been formed by the Department of Fisheries and the Ministry of Cooperation to develop cooperative-led deep-sea ventures through Fisheries Cooperatives and Farmer Producer Organisations.

For decades, Indian fishermen have operated within 40 to 60 nautical miles using smaller boats, which limited both their catch and income. The new program will help fishing cooperatives go beyond this range and access offshore resources responsibly, opening new opportunities in high-value fisheries like tuna across Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Officials said the project will not only strengthen seafood exports but also improve the livelihoods of coastal communities and promote technological growth in the marine sector. By empowering cooperatives, the government aims to ensure fair and sustainable progress while maintaining the ecological balance of India’s maritime environment.

Delegates and ministers from 11 countries are attending India Maritime Week 2025, which aims to position India as a global leader in the ‘Blue Economy’. The event is expected to attract over one lakh participants from 85 countries, featuring 500 companies and 350 speakers sharing insights across the maritime industry.