Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal commenced a four-day visit to South Korea on October 25, 2026, aiming to strengthen India's position in the global shipbuilding industry and move towards becoming one of the top five nations by 2047. The visit includes interactions with Indian professionals working in Korean shipbuilding firms.
On October 25, 2026, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, initiated a four-day visit to South Korea. During this trip, Sonowal emphasized India's maritime opportunities for the Korean industry as both countries strive to expand shipbuilding cooperation.
The minister's agenda includes efforts to help India achieve its goal of becoming one of the world's top five shipbuilding nations by 2047. Sonowal opened the trip in Busan, a hub for Korea's maritime industry, with an interaction with Indian professionals working within Korean shipbuilding firms such as Samsung Heavy Industries, Hanwha Ocean, HD Hyundai, DNV, and the Indian Register of Shipping.
India's Ambassador to South Korea, Gourangalal Das, welcomed the gathering and underscored the importance of the community’s presence in Korea within one of the world's most advanced shipbuilding ecosystems. He encouraged them to view the VOYAGES framework between India and South Korea, which covers cooperation in shipbuilding, shipping, and maritime logistics, as a platform for professional growth and India's maritime future.
Sonowal stated that India aims to become a globally competitive centre for shipbuilding, ship repair, maritime manufacturing, and logistics under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. He also mentioned that India's Cabinet approved a series of policy incentives for the sector in September 2025.
Sonowal asked the professionals to bring their Korean experience home or to support Indian companies from Korea. 'You can serve as living bridges between your networks in both countries,' he said, also encouraging them to mentor young Indian professionals and participate in the India Ship Technology Centre and the shipbuilding skills partnership between India and the Korea International Cooperation Agency.
Sonowal sought practical suggestions from the community on three issues: improving shipyard productivity and project execution, building a globally competitive skilled workforce, and deepening cooperation in technology, manufacturing, and innovation between Indian and Korean industries.
Source:
Press Information Bureau
