OSLO — India and Japan have agreed to enhance cooperation in maritime affairs following a high-level bilateral meeting held Monday in Oslo between India’s Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT), Terada Yoshimichi.
The talks focused on bolstering maritime collaboration between the two countries, with key discussions centered on investment in shipbuilding, port digitization, green port initiatives, and seafarer training. Both sides explored opportunities to expand Japanese investment in India’s growing maritime sector, including potential Greenfield shipyard projects such as Imabari Shipbuilding in Andhra Pradesh.
“Japan’s expertise in shipbuilding and repair is well recognized. We invite Japan’s Big Three—NYK Line, MOL, and K Line—to explore joint ventures in India,” Sonowal said. He emphasized India’s commitment to sustainable maritime growth through its Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
In a joint push for sustainable technologies, the ministers also discussed transforming India’s island territories—Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep—into “Smart Islands” with the help of Japanese innovation in renewable energy, digital infrastructure, and disaster-resilient development.
“Japan’s leadership in developing island territories is highly valued,” said Sonowal. “We see great scope for joint work to enhance connectivity and promote ecological conservation.”
The discussions also touched on collaborative research and development, co-development of clean energy maritime clusters, and frameworks for maritime workforce training. Sonowal said India’s pool of over 154,000 trained seafarers could supplement Japan’s maritime workforce and proposed structured training programs led by Japanese experts.
Highlighting cultural and strategic ties, Sonowal said, “Relations between India and Japan have a long history rooted in spiritual affinity and civilizational values. Our collaboration under the Quad and the India-Japan-Australia Supply Chain Resilience Initiative underscores our shared commitment to regional maritime security.”
Japan’s Vice Minister Terada welcomed India’s push toward maritime modernization, expressing interest in expanding Japanese cooperation beyond existing railway projects. “We are now very interested in the maritime sector,” Terada said, describing the meeting as productive.
Sonowal also invited Japan to participate in the development of India’s National Maritime Heritage Museum at Lothal in Gujarat and extended an invitation to Vice Minister Terada to attend India Maritime Week, scheduled for October 27–31 in Mumbai.
India aims to secure five trillion yen (approximately ₹3.2 lakh crore) in Japanese investment by 2027, Sonowal said, reaffirming the bilateral relationship as one “rooted in mutual trust and shared values—democracy, freedom, and civilizational connection.”
The meeting was attended by senior officials from both countries, including representatives from Japan’s Maritime Bureau, the Japanese Embassy in Norway, as well as Indian ministries and public sector enterprises.
