India’s heavy reliance on foreign shipping despite its maritime power poses a strategic risk as disruption to global shipping could seriously affect the country’s economy, Madhu S. Nair, chairman and managing director of Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), said on Wednesday.
Mr Nair said India has emerged as an ideal global shipbuilding partner driven by a young and skilled workforce combined with a resilient economy and a fast-growing domestic market.
He inaugurated the Kochi Shipbuilding Summit 2025, jointly organized by CSL and the Center for Public Policy Research (CPPR) as a prelude to the India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 to be held from October 27 to 31 in Mumbai.
The summit brought together leading voices from the maritime industry, academia and policy circles to discuss the theme ‘Governing the Indian Shipbuilding Industry: Collaboration, Innovation and Investment to 2047’.
D. Dhanuraj, Chairman, CPPR, emphasized the importance of industry-academia synergy to address capability gaps and foster innovation. “Building an ecosystem that supports research, skill development and global partnerships is critical for India to achieve long-term maritime leadership,” he said.
Moderated by RP Pradhan, Professor, BITS Pilani, Goa Campus, the panel discussion called for strategies to increase the competitiveness of Indian shipping through financial reforms, technology adoption, digitization and global collaboration.
Former Vice Admiral G. Ashok Kumar, Biju George, Director (Shipbuilding), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited; Speakers were Hariraj P., Chief Operating Officer, Smart Engineering & Design Solutions Ltd., and Satheesh Babu PK, Associate Professor, Department of Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding, Cochin University of Science and Technology.
Meanwhile, the Cochin Port Authority has launched a social media campaign celebrating the port’s heritage and achievements in its preparations for IMW 2025, while pursuing global investment opportunities. The campaign features posters and videos, as well as celebrity endorsements.
Published – 22 Oct 2025 22:08 IST
