India Anchors Stability Amid Global Turmoil: Modi
By Manu Shrivastava
As the sun dipped over Mumbai's skyline on October 29, 2025, the NESCO Exhibition Centre pulsed with the energy of a maritime renaissance. Day three of India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 transformed the bustling venue into a nexus of global ambition, where salty sea breezes seemed to mingle with the sharp scent of innovation and deal-making.
Hosted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, this five-day extravaganza — running from October 27 to 31 under the evocative theme Uniting Oceans, One Maritime Vision drew the world's eyes to India's shores, positioning the nation not just as a participant in the Blue Economy, but as its emerging architect.
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| Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking at India Maritime Week 2025 |
At the heart of the day's fervour was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whose arrival electrified the proceedings. Stepping into the spotlight around 4 PM, he first commanded the Maritime Leaders Conclave with a stirring plenary address that echoed across the hall and beyond, beamed live to stakeholders from Tokyo to Rotterdam.
"When the global seas are rough, the world looks for a steady lighthouse, India is well poised to play that role with strength and stability. Amid global tensions, trade disruptions and shifting supply chains, India stands as a symbol of strategic autonomy, peace and inclusive growth," said the Prime Minister at the conclave.
His words weren't mere rhetoric; they painted a bold blueprint for India as a global maritime powerhouse by 2047 - envisioning smarter ports, greener fleets and supply chains that could weather any storm.
He added, "India's maritime sector is advancing with great speed and energy. We have replaced over a century-old colonial shipping laws with modern, futuristic laws suited for the 21st century. India's ports are counted among the most efficient in the developing world; in many aspects, they are performing even better than those in the developed world."
From there, Modi seamlessly transitioned to chair the event's crown jewel: the Global Maritime CEO Forum. This closed-door gathering of industry titans—CEOs from behemoths like DP World, alongside investors, policymakers and trailblazing innovators—became a high-stakes salon for reimagining the seas.
Conversations swirled around sustainable growth that doesn't sacrifice the planet, resilient supply chains fortified against disruptions, pioneering green shipping tactics to slash emissions and strategies for an inclusive Blue Economy that lifts coastal communities from Kerala to Gujarat.
It was here, amid handshakes and holographic displays of futuristic vessels, that Modi's presence underscored a simple truth: India's maritime ascent isn't optional - it's inevitable.
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| Attendees at the India Maritime Week 2025 lauding PM Modi's speech |
This wasn't an isolated spectacle but the crescendo of IMW's broader symphony, a whirlwind of over 100 sessions designed to catapult India into the vanguard of global seafaring.
Picture the QUAD Ports of the Future Conference, where allies hashed out next-gen infrastructure; Sagarmanthan – The Great Oceans Dialogue, probing the philosophical depths of oceanic stewardship; the SheEO Conference, amplifying women steering the sector's helm; and the UNESCAP Asia-Pacific Dialogue, weaving regional threads into a fabric of cooperation.
With delegates hailing from more than 85 nations—topping 1,00,000 strong—and 350 international speakers trading insights, the air hummed with cross-border pacts.
The exhibition floors, sprawling like a high-tech bazaar, brimmed with over 500 stalls showcasing everything from AI-driven shipbuilding kits to zero-emission propulsion tech, drawing crowds eager to ink deals that could redefine trade routes.
It wasn't just about speeches or signings—it was a declaration that the Indian Ocean isn't a backyard pond anymore; it's the artery of tomorrow's world order. As Modi departed under the evening lights, leaving behind a trail of MoUs and murmured collaborations, one couldn't shake the sense that Mumbai's waves were whispering of empires yet to rise.
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