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BHUBANESWAR, SEPTEMBER 24, 2025
“Odisha is ready to become the eastern maritime gateway of India, a Purvodaya in true sense, and a driver of sustainable industrial growth,” said Sampad Chandra Swain, Minister of Industries, Skill Development & Technical Education, Government of Odisha, as the Paradip Port Authority (PPA) hosted a high-profile roadshow in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday. The event, themed “Navigating the shift of Indian Maritime Sector: From Volume to Vision,” marked a significant milestone in the run-up to the prestigious India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025.
Organised under the aegis of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), the roadshow brought together policymakers, industry leaders, port operators, investors, and government officials to deliberate on the transformation of India’s maritime ecosystem. The convergence reaffirmed Paradip Port’s pivotal role in driving this shift and advancing Odisha’s ambitious port-led development agenda.
Delivering the keynote address, Minister Swain underscored Odisha’s readiness to play a central role in India’s maritime ambitions. He positioned Paradip Port as the State’s pride and as a gateway to the eastern seaboard’s industrial expansion.
He reiterated Odisha’s commitment to supporting Bahuda Port, the shipbuilding and ship repair cluster at Kendrapada, and other initiatives steered by Paradip Port Authority. Aligning with Viksit Bharat@2047 and Viksit Odisha@2036, Swain projected India among the top five shipbuilding nations in the coming decades, while highlighting opportunities in the blue economy and ship recycling. “Our maritime vision is not only about ports and ships — it is about people, inclusive skilling, and ensuring that women also become integral to this growth story,” he said.
Dr. Bibhu Prasad Tarai, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha), lauded the joint initiatives of the State and Union governments in transforming Odisha into a global maritime hub. “These collaborative efforts are paving the way for Odisha to emerge as the eastern fulcrum of India’s maritime rise,” he said.
Welcoming the distinguished gathering, P.L. Haranadh, Chairman, Paradip Port Authority, set the tone by placing India’s maritime journey in a global context of steady trade growth, sustainability, and digital disruption. He highlighted that IMW 2025, scheduled in Mumbai from October 27 to 31, will be a five-day global forum featuring over 100 maritime nations, 200 international speakers, 500 exhibitors, and an expected 100,000 delegates.
More importantly, Haranadh revealed that MoPSW is eyeing MoUs exceeding ₹10 lakh crore during IMW 2025, with Paradip Port alone expected to account for investments worth more than ₹1 lakh crore — nearly one-tenth of the national target. “Paradip Port is not just Odisha’s pride but also India’s eastern anchor in realizing Maritime Vision 2047,” he asserted.
He underlined the recently inked agreements at the Prime Minister’s event in Bhavnagar, Gujarat: the proposed Bahuda Major Port at an investment of ₹21,500 crore, a shipbuilding hub at the Mahanadi Mouth with ₹24,700 crore, and a modern cruise terminal at Puri. Together with MoPSW’s “One Nation One Port” initiative to streamline efficiency and ease of doing business, these projects are set to position Paradip at the centre of India’s maritime revolution.
Hemant Sharma, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries Department & Chairman, IPICOL, echoed the sentiment, stressing that Odisha’s 8–9% economic growth — outpacing the national average — must be reinforced by strong maritime infrastructure. He pointed to growing investor interest in shipbuilding and repair facilities in the State, thanks to Paradip Port’s aggressive expansion plans and recent MoUs.
Usha Padhee, Principal Secretary, Housing & Urban Development and Commerce & Transport, Government of Odisha, presented a forward-looking roadmap anchored in “Vision Odisha 2036 and 2047”. She emphasized the State’s ambition to expand port capacity from the current 80 MTPA to 500 MTPA by 2047, backed by modernization, greenfield development, and the proposed Odisha Maritime Board.
“Port-led development is at the heart of realizing the Prime Minister’s vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat,” Padhee said, calling for greater private sector engagement, resilient infrastructure, and gender-inclusive skilling to make the maritime sector sustainable and equitable.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by A.K. Sahoo, Deputy Chairman (In-Charge), Paradip Port Authority. It was followed by two thematic panel discussions — one on cargo efficiency and growth, and another on digital pathways for smart ports powered by IT and e-governance. The sessions highlighted the sector’s transition from traditional cargo handling to technology-driven, sustainable, and future-ready operations.
Supported by Grant Thornton as knowledge partner and Assocham as industry partner, the roadshow laid the groundwork for India Maritime Week 2025, the flagship platform of MoPSW. The upcoming Mumbai edition will spotlight India’s maritime transformation story and is expected to see participation from policymakers, investors, global leaders, and innovators across 100+ countries.
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