"Maharashtra has made a significant contribution to the country's maritime strength": Maharashtra CM Fadnavis

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], October 27 (ANI): Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, on Monday, highlighted the state's pivotal role in India's maritime sector in his address at the India Maritime Week 2025 event.
"Maharashtra has made a significant contribution to the country's maritime strength. As India's economic capital, Maharashtra owes much of its success to the strategic importance of Mumbai's ports and the pivotal role of the JNPA."
He further lauded the Centre's initiatives under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, stating, "Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have commenced construction of the Vadhavan Port. Once completed, it will become one of the world's top 10 largest ports, further enhancing India's maritime capabilities and strengthening the global supply chain."
The Chief Minister also outlined state-level measures to boost the sector, saying, "To accelerate maritime development, we have undertaken several policy initiatives. We have introduced the Maharashtra Shipbuilding Policy 2025, aimed at boosting domestic manufacturing and infrastructure."
Fadnavis extended an invitation to global investors, adding, "We invite the global community to invest in Maharashtra and India and become a part of this transformative journey."
Earlier, Union Home Minister Amit Shah emphasised India's maritime strength and strategic location, inviting global investors to tap into the sector's vast potential.
He also highlighted that India's coastline is about 11,000 km, with 13 coastal states and Union Territories, and that the maritime business contributes around 60 per cent to the country's GDP.
"India's maritime strength and strategic location are evident from the fact that our coastline is over 11,000 kilometres long. There are 13 coastal states and Union Territories, and our maritime business contributes approximately 60% to our GDP. There are 23.7 lakh kilometres of exclusive economic zones and special economic zones," Shah said.
"It attracts investors and manufacturers from around the world, with a population of 800 million. Nearly half of this population lives in maritime states. The 28 countries of the Indian Ocean region contribute approximately 12% to global exports. Today, through a Maritime Summit, we are opening up this full potential to global investors and champions of the global maritime industry," the Union Minister added.
The event attracted key industry stakeholders, policymakers, and international delegates.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in the presence of Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Shantanu Thakur, inaugurated 'India Maritime Week - 2025' in Mumbai
Deputy CMs Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, Goa CM Pramod Sawant, Odisha CM Mohan Charan Majhi and Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel also attended the event.
The Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) is hosting the India Maritime Week 2025 (IMW 2025) from October 27 to 31 at NESCO Grounds, Mumbai. (ANI)