PM Modi invites the world to India's shores

Speaking at the Maritime India Summit, the prime minister said, "Our nation has a rich maritime history. Civilizations flourished on our coasts. For thousands of years, our ports have been important trading centres. Our coasts connected us to the world.”

"Through this Maritime India Summit, I want to invite the world to come to India and be a part of our growth trajectory. India is very serious about growing in the maritime sector and emerging as a leading Blue Economy of the world," PM Modi said.

"India's long coastline awaits you. India's hardworking people await you. Invest in our ports. Invest in our people. Let India be your preferred trade destination. Let Indian ports be your port of call for trade and commerce," he said.

He also said that India will invest $82 billion in port projects by 2035, raise the share of clean renewable energy source in the maritime sector, developing waterways and boost tourism around lighthouses as part of port-led development.

Under the Sagarmala project, the prime minister said over 574 projects costing $82 billion have been identified for implementation between 2015 and 2035.

"Ours is a government that is investing in waterways in a way that was never seen before. Domestic waterways are found to be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly way of transporting freight. We aim to operationalise 23 waterways by 2030," he said.

"Indian ports now have measures such as direct port delivery, direct port entry and an upgraded Port Community System (PCS) for easy data flow. Our ports have reduced waiting time for inbound and outbound cargo," Modi added.

Talking about developing a tourism hub along the coastline, he said, "India has as many as 189 lighthouses across its vast coastline. We have drawn up a programme for developing tourism in the land adjacent to 78 lighthouses."

On the shipbuilding market, he said, "The Government of India is also focusing on the domestic shipbuilding and ship repair market. To encourage domestic shipbuilding we approved the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy for Indian Shipyards."

On renewable energy, the prime minister said, "We are in the process of installing solar and wind-based power systems in all the major ports across the country. We aim to increase usage of renewable energy to more than 60 per cent of all energy by 2030 in three phases across Indian ports."