India’s marine mission to Denmark and Norway will be led by Sarbananda Sonowal

By Admin

02 Jun, 2025

India is setting sail on a global maritime outreach with Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, leading a high-level delegation to Norway and Denmark from June 2 for a five-day official visit. This mission comes at a pivotal time, underlining India's growing prominence in the global shipping landscape and aiming to boost cooperation with key international maritime stakeholders.

Strategic Significance of the Visit
The visit holds immense strategic importance as Minister Sonowal will spearhead Team India, comprising senior officials from both the Central and State governments, prominent Indian shipyards, and representatives from the private maritime sector. This powerful delegation reflects India's commitment to strengthen ties with leading maritime nations and position itself as a key player in global shipping and logistics.

India @ Nor-Shipping 2025
One of the key highlights of this mission is India's participation in the prestigious 60th edition of Nor-Shipping, held in Oslo, Norway. Minister Sonowal will address the High-Level Meeting on Oceans, inaugurate the first-ever India Pavilion, and chair the India @ Nor-Shipping Country Session. Additionally, he will launch the global outreach campaign for the upcoming India Maritime Week 2025, scheduled from October 27-31 in Mumbai, showcasing India’s maritime vision to the world.

Bilateral Engagements and Industrial Dialogue
On the sidelines of Nor-Shipping, Minister Sonowal is set to hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Japan and Norway, fostering deeper inter-governmental ties. The Indian delegation will also engage with leading European shipping companies, component manufacturers, and technology developers, opening avenues for industrial collaborations, technology transfer, and sustainable development in the maritime domain.

Promoting Maritime Heritage & Innovation
An important feature at the India Pavilion will be a dedicated space for the National Maritime Heritage Complex, where global delegates will get a glimpse of India’s rich 5000-year-old maritime history and its extensive global linkages. This not only emphasizes India’s legacy as a maritime nation but also strengthens its soft power diplomacy.

Denmark Engagements and Cultural Tributes
During the Denmark leg of the tour, Minister Sonowal will interact with the students of the ‘Blue MBA’ at Copenhagen Business School, discussing India’s rapidly expanding maritime economy and the global opportunities it presents. In a touching tribute to the past, he will also visit Minnehallen – The Hall of Remembrance, to honor the Indian sailors who lost their lives during World War II.

Robust Indian Participation
The Indian delegation includes senior representatives from:

• Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways (MoPSW)
  
  

• Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL)
  
  

• Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE)
  
  

• Maharashtra Maritime Board (MMB)
  
  

• Karnataka Maritime Board (KMB)
  
  

• Government of Andhra Pradesh
  
  

• Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board
  
  

• Guidance Tamil Nadu
  
  

• Along with leading large and MSME shipyards from across India.