India and Japan have pledged to deepen their partnership across a spectrum of green and sustainable maritime sectors. The agreement was cemented during a high-level bilateral meeting in Oslo on 2 June 2025 between India’s Union Minister for Ports.
Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Terada Yoshimichi.At the heart of the discussion was a shared vision to drive carbon-neutral growth in the maritime domain. The ministers discussed strategic collaboration in areas including shipbuilding, port digitisation, smart island development, and human resource skilling, all aligned with sustainable development goals. India’s push to modernise its port and logistics infrastructure under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 is being matched by Japan’s advanced capabilities in shipbuilding and clean marine technologies.
With Japanese companies such as Imabari Shipbuilding, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Kanagawa Dockyard expressing interest in India, talks included prospects for Greenfield investment—particularly in Andhra Pradesh. These investments would support India’s ambition to become a global hub for sustainable shipbuilding and repair, while also facilitating the co-development of maritime industrial clusters centred around clean energy logistics.
A key highlight of the meeting was the discussion around transforming India’s island territories into Smart Islands. Sonowal emphasised that Japan’s deep expertise in developing island infrastructure could play a pivotal role in sustainably upgrading the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands. “These islands offer an opportunity to lead by example in green mobility, digital infrastructure, and climate-resilient design,” he said.Both sides committed to exploring joint initiatives in port digitisation and green port models—technologies that are crucial for building resilience in maritime trade corridors. As India aims to decarbonise its shipping industry, Japan’s technological edge could help fast-track deployment of low-emission and digitally integrated logistics systems.
On the human capital front, Sonowal pitched for increased employment opportunities for Indian seafarers in Japanese fleets. He highlighted India’s strong pool of over 1.54 lakh trained maritime professionals who can contribute to Japan’s workforce needs. Structured training and exchange programmes, potentially in partnership with Cochin Shipyard Limited and Indian maritime universities, were discussed as next steps.The ministers also discussed cooperation in maritime research and development, including next-generation ship design, clean fuel technologies, and disaster-resilient marine infrastructure. India expressed interest in formalising this cooperation through an MoU and proposed including Japan as a partner in the upcoming National Maritime Heritage Museum at Lothal, Gujarat.
Terada Yoshimichi acknowledged the expanding depth of India-Japan relations, particularly in the context of regional maritime security and resilience. He expressed satisfaction with the meeting and Japan’s growing interest in India’s maritime sector, traditionally dominated by its involvement in rail infrastructure.As a symbolic gesture of future cooperation, Sonowal extended a formal invitation to the Japanese delegation to attend India Maritime Week 2025, scheduled in Mumbai from 27–31 October. The event will serve as a global platform to showcase maritime innovations, investment opportunities, and collaborative ventures.
With both nations aligning on ecological priorities, maritime security, and regional economic integration, the Oslo meeting marked a decisive step toward a cleaner and smarter maritime future. The India-Japan maritime partnership is poised to become a key pillar in the Indo-Pacific’s green growth and resilience strategy.
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