India’s heavy dependence on foreign shipping for trade despite its naval strength poses a strategic risk, as disruptions in global shipping could severely impact the country’s economy, Madhu S. Nair, chairman and managing director, Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), said here on Wednesday.
Mr. Nair said India stood out as the ideal global shipbuilding partner powered by a young and skilled workforce, combined with a resilient economy and rapidly growing domestic market.
He was inaugurating the Kochi Shipbuilding Summit 2025, jointly organised by CSL and Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR) as a prelude to the India Maritime Week (IMW) 2025 to be held from October 27 to 31 in Mumbai.
The summit brought together leading voices from the maritime industry, academia, and policy circles to deliberate on the theme ‘Steering India’s Shipbuilding Industry: Collaboration, Innovation and Investment for 2047’.
D. Dhanuraj, chairman, CPPR, highlighted the importance of synergy between industry and academia to address capability gaps and promote innovation. “Building an ecosystem that encourages research, skill development, and global partnerships is essential for India to achieve long-term maritime leadership,” he said.
A panel discussion moderated by R.P. Pradhan, Professor at BITS Pilani, Goa Campus, called for strategies to enhance India’s shipbuilding competitiveness through financial reforms, technology adoption, digitalisation, and global collaboration.
Former Vice Admiral G. Ashok Kumar, Biju George, director (shipbuilding), Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders Limited; Hariraj P., chief operating officer, Smart Engineering & Design Solutions Ltd., and Satheesh Babu P.K., associate professor, Department of Naval Architecture and Shipbuilding, Cochin University of Science and Technology, spoke.
Meanwhile, the Cochin Port Authority launched a social media campaign celebrating the port’s legacy and achievements as it gears up for IMW 2025, eyeing global investment opportunities. The campaign features posters and videos as well as celebrity endorsements.
Published – October 22, 2025 10:08 pm IST
