NewzVille Desk
Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue, organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) in partnership with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF), opened on 07 October, 2026. The Dialogue opened with a message from Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling for a free, open, secure and rules-based maritime order. Building on the Prime Minister’s vision, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal set out a global maritime order built on trust, shared prosperity and partnership, with India as a guide and anchor for nations navigating profound change.
In his message to the Dialogue, the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi recalled that in Indian tradition the churning of the ocean is associated with the discovery of new possibilities. He traced India’s maritime heritage from Lothal to the Cholas and the naval vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, and reaffirmed India’s vision of a free, open, secure and rules-based maritime order. “The oceans do not separate us, they connect us, because what happens in one part of the world can have an impact far beyond its shores,” the Prime Minister said, underlining why dialogue and global cooperation matter more than ever.
The first day of Sagarmanthan brought together ministers from different countries, naval leadership, port authorities, shipbuilders, financiers and multilateral institutions from five continents. Delegations and experts from Australia, Belgium, Bhutan, the European Union, France, Norway, the Republic of Korea, the UAE, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, Egypt, Seychelles, Ecuador and others joined the OECD, UN Trade and Development, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the African Union in a single conversation on the future of the oceans.
Closing the day’s proceedings in a high-level conversation titled Maritime Amrit Kaal 2047: India’s Ocean Vision and a New Era of Global Maritime Cooperation, Sonowal described India’s maritime transformation under Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, PM Gati Shakti and the Sagarmala programme as a contribution to the world, not only to India. In conversation with ORF President Dr. Samir Saran, he positioned India as a Vishwaguru on the oceans: a nation that shares its knowledge, capacity and talent to help shape a more collaborative global ocean agenda.
“India’s bond with the sea is civilisational. For thousands of years, Indian sailors carried goods, ideas and culture across the oceans as partners, never as conquerors,” said Sarbananda Sonowal. “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is once again offering the world a maritime model rooted in trust, capability and mutual benefit. That is the spirit of India as Vishwaguru: we lead by example and we grow together with our partners.”
“The global maritime order is going through a great churning of disruption, fragmentation and technological change,” Sonowal added. “Out of this churning, India is determined to bring forth amrit for the world: resilient supply chains, green shipping corridors, a world-class shipbuilding ecosystem and a skilled seafaring workforce that every nation can rely on. Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 is our roadmap to Viksit Bharat, and an open invitation to partners across every ocean.”
Delivering the scene-setting ministerial address at the formal opening of the conference, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shantanu Thakur highlighted how India’s port-led development and new-generation maritime laws are building capacity for the wider region. Vijay Kumar, Secretary, MoPSW, delivered the opening address, and Dr. Samir Saran, President, ORF, delivered the welcome remarks.
“Ports today are not just gateways for cargo; they are strategic assets that shape competitiveness, energy security and trust between nations,” said Shantanu Thakur. “With our major ports having nearly doubled their capacity and a modern legal framework now in place, India is ready to serve not only its own growth but the trade of the entire Indo-Pacific and beyond.”
The Inaugural Ministerial Plenary, Tides of Trust: Ports, Partnerships, and the Making of a New Maritime Century, moderated by Dr. Samir Saran, examined how ports and shipping networks are being rethought as strategic assets. The panel featured Kevin Rudd, Former Prime Minister of Australia and Global President & CEO, Asia Society; Ms. Annick De Ridder, Flemish Minister of Mobility, Public Works, Ports and Sport, Belgium; Chandra Bahadur Gurung, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Bhutan; Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, Chief of the Naval Staff, India; and Rizwan Soomar, CEO and MD, DP World. Earlier, Soomar and Dr. Saran set the tone in The Great Churning: Trade, Power and Opportunity, a conversation on how maritime connectivity is redefining economic power.
