Visakhapatnam: Andhra Pradesh is positioning itself as a Global Maritime Hub, with major investments planned in port infrastructure, shipbuilding and ship repair.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal outlined the state’s maritime development opportunities at the 31st CII Partnership Summit 2026 in Visakhapatnam on November 12.
Highlighting Andhra Pradesh’s strategic advantages, Sonowal said its approximately 1,053-kilometre coastline along the Bay of Bengal, access to key international shipping routes and proximity to major Asian manufacturing and trading economies provide a strong foundation for its maritime ambitions.
He said these advantages could position Andhra Pradesh as India’s principal maritime gateway to ASEAN, East Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region.
Sonowal credited the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the support of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for creating favourable conditions to accelerate the state’s maritime development.
He added that the Centre was committed to working closely with the state government, industry and global investors to unlock its potential.
“If Hyderabad became Cyberabad, Andhra Pradesh today has the opportunity to become India’s Maritime Gateway to the East,” Sarbananda Sonowal said, drawing a parallel between the state’s technology-led growth and the emerging opportunities in the maritime sector.
Visakhapatnam Port to Receive Projects Worth Over ₹560 Crore
Highlighting recent infrastructure developments, Sonowal referred to the foundation stone laid on Wednesday for projects worth more than ₹560 crore at Visakhapatnam Port.
The projects are expected to augment port capacity, improve ease of doing business and generate employment opportunities.
The state’s broader ambition to become a Global Maritime Hub is also supported by the development of four major greenfield ports. These projects are currently under construction at Mulapeta, Machilipatnam, Ramayapatnam and Kakinada SEZ.
The four ports are expected to strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s cargo-handling capacity and support industrial development across the state.
₹30,000-Crore Shipbuilding Cluster Proposed at Dugarajapatnam
Shipbuilding and ship repair are among the major opportunities identified by the Union Minister for Andhra Pradesh.
Sonowal highlighted the proposed greenfield shipbuilding cluster at Dugarajapatnam, which has received in-principle approval under the National Shipbuilding Mission.
The proposed project envisages an investment of approximately ₹30,000 crore and a targeted annual capacity of 1.2 million gross tonnes.
A Centre-State special purpose vehicle (SPV), involving the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board and Visakhapatnam Port Authority, has been formed for the project.
Inviting international participation, Sonowal called on global shipbuilders, technology companies, equipment manufacturers and maritime investors to explore Andhra Pradesh as a preferred investment destination.
Explaining India’s broader shipbuilding ambitions, he said, “Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India had set an ambitious objective of becoming one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations.
We have been taking major steps to develop the capacity, technology and industrial ecosystem required to achieve this goal. The Modi government has allocated ₹70,000 crore in financing support for shipbuilding and other maritime activities, creating opportunities for domestic and international investors.”
Global Maritime Hub Ambition Linked to India’s ₹80-Lakh-Crore Maritime Vision
Sonowal said Andhra Pradesh’s maritime development forms part of India’s wider transformation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
National initiatives, including Sagarmala, Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, are laying the foundations for a globally competitive maritime economy, with an envisaged investment of ₹80 lakh crore.
He also highlighted two major initiatives aimed at strengthening domestic maritime manufacturing and coastal transportation.
These include the ₹10,000-crore Container Manufacturing Scheme to promote indigenous container production and the proposed ₹10,000-crore Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme to utilise the potential of India’s 12,000-kilometre coastline.
Another major infrastructure initiative is the ₹80,000-crore deep-draft, all-weather mega container port at Vadhavan in Maharashtra, which is expected to strengthen India’s maritime infrastructure.
According to Sonowal, the four Global Maritime Investment Summits organised under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership have attracted investments worth approximately ₹25 lakh crore in India’s maritime sector.
AI-Powered Smart Ports to Drive Maritime Transformation
Technology will play a significant role in the next phase of India’s maritime development, particularly as Andhra Pradesh works towards establishing itself as a Global Maritime Hub.
Sonowal emphasised the importance of integrating advanced technologies into port operations to improve efficiency and competitiveness.
“Smart ports powered by artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, automation and digital logistics platforms would be central to improving efficiency and competitiveness. Andhra Pradesh has the opportunity to take a leading role in this transformation.”
He called for stronger collaboration between the Central and state governments, industry participants and international investors to accelerate development across several maritime segments.
These include port infrastructure, shipbuilding, ship repair, cruise tourism, coastal shipping and maritime industrialisation.
Three Key Maritime Ambitions for Andhra Pradesh
Sonowal outlined three major ambitions for Andhra Pradesh as it seeks to strengthen its position in the global maritime industry.
The first is to establish the state as a leading destination for port-led development, in line with the Prime Minister’s Saptadhara roadmap for Viksit Bharat 2047.
The second is to develop Andhra Pradesh into a globally competitive shipbuilding and ship repair hub.
The third is to position the state as India’s eastern maritime gateway to ASEAN, East Asia and the wider Indo-Pacific region.
These ambitions build on the state’s existing maritime infrastructure, which includes Visakhapatnam, Gangavaram and Krishnapatnam ports.
Visakhapatnam Port Records 91.17 Million Tonnes of Cargo in FY26
Visakhapatnam Port has already established a significant presence in India’s maritime sector.
The port handled a record 91.17 million tonnes of cargo during FY 2025-26, registering approximately 10% growth compared with the previous financial year.
It has also maintained a continuous growth trajectory for four consecutive years since FY 2021-22.
The expansion of existing port infrastructure, development of four greenfield ports and the proposed shipbuilding cluster are expected to further strengthen Andhra Pradesh’s maritime capabilities.
