Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the event on Monday morning. He was joined by the chief ministers of key coastal states — Devendra Fadnavis (Maharashtra), Bhupendra Patel (Gujarat), Pramod Sawant (Goa) and Mohan Charan Majhi (Odisha). With delegations and ministers from 11 countries, IMW 2025 aims to spotlight India’s emergence as a global maritime hub and a key driver of the Blue Economy.
Officials anticipate more than 100,000 delegates from 85+ countries, with upwards of 500 exhibitors and over 350 speakers participating in conferences, sessions and sectoral dialogues. At its heart, the event seeks to foster investment and partnerships across diverse maritime segments, ports, shipbuilding, logistics, green shipping and inland waterways, with several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) expected to be signed.
Maritime ambitions and global collaborations
“Under the dynamic leadership of PM Shri Narendra Modi ji, we are working to transform our ports, shipping, and logistics ecosystem into one that is resilient, sustainable, and future-ready. This opens vast avenues for international collaboration, including a 1 trillion US dollars maritime investment roadmap. IMW 2025 will be a platform where ideas can translate into projects and commitments into partnerships. India stands ready to collaborate and lead towards a maritime future that is prosperous, sustainable, and inclusive,” stated Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, as reported by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) Mumbai.
The maritime sector remains a cornerstone of India’s economic vision, handling over 95 per cent of the nation’s trade by volume. The government’s drive to establish India as a global maritime leader aligns closely with long-term policy frameworks such as the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
During the week, coastal states including Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Odisha will hold dedicated investment sessions to attract ventures in infrastructure, logistics, and port development.
IMW 2025 will also host flagship conferences such as the Global Maritime India Summit (GMIS 2025), the QUAD “Ports of the Future” conference, The Great Oceans Dialogue, and the SheEO Conference. Exhibition halls will showcase 400+ exhibitors, displaying cutting-edge maritime technologies, shipbuilding tools, logistics innovations, and sustainability platforms.
Country-specific sessions featuring Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark and Sweden, along with state and UT presentations from 11 regions, are also on the agenda. The highlight will be the Prime Minister’s special address on October 29, followed by a Global CEO Forum bringing together top executives from the global shipping and logistics industries.
IMW 2025 sends a clear signal: India’s maritime ambition is supported by robust policy, infrastructure, and market potential. With MoUs and investment pledges expected to flow in, this week could become a pivotal moment in India’s transformation from a coastal nation to a global maritime powerhouse. As Mumbai hosts one of the world’s largest maritime events, the focus will remain on how effectively India leverages this platform to convert its maritime aspirations into concrete partnerships and investments — shaping the course of its maritime rise in the years to come.
