Stories
PM from Coastal State Unlocks India's Maritime Potential, Says Sanjeev Sanyal
M
Moneycontrol•24-09-2026, 13:45
PM from Coastal State Unlocks India's Maritime Potential, Says Sanjeev Sanyal
- •Sanjeev Sanyal, Member of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, stated that previous Indian governments had a ‘landlocked’ mindset regarding maritime issues.
- •Sanyal emphasized that India's maritime push requires national priority and ‘maritime sensitivity,’ not primarily money, and that a Prime Minister from a coastal state was essential to change this thinking.
- •Prime Minister Narendra Modi, born and raised in Vadnagar, Gujarat, fits the description of a leader from a maritime state.
- •Sanyal highlighted the importance of changing the legal framework and fostering private-sector participation to enhance India's maritime orientation.
- •He also noted that a re-evaluation of historical narratives, which falsely claimed Indians were afraid of the sea, has contributed to a renewed maritime outlook, citing historical links with Southeast Asia as evidence.
Key Questions Answered
Sanjeev Sanyal stated that India's previous governments had been landlocked in their mindset regarding maritime issues, arguing that a Prime Minister from a coastal state was necessary to open up that perspective.
According to Sanjeev Sanyal, India has the necessary shipyards, maritime expertise, modern maritime laws, a fleet of around 480 ocean-going vessels, and a policy framework to establish a globally competitive shipbuilding industry.
India remains a minor player with a global shipbuilding market share below 1%, while China leads with roughly 55%, and South Korea and Japan account for about 20% each.
