Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal has begun his four-day visit to South Korea on October 25, 2026, and pitched India's maritime opportunity to Korean industry as the two countries work to expand shipbuilding cooperation. Sonowal began the trip in Busan, which he called the hub of Korea's maritime industry, with a meeting with Indian professionals working in Korean shipbuilding.
Sonowal said 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 said India will need many more shipbuilders, marine engineers, naval architects, designers, welders, project managers and technology specialists.
The minister asked the professionals to bring their Korean experience home or to support Indian companies from Korea. He said ‘you can serve as living bridges between your networks in both countries’. He also encouraged them to mentor young Indian professionals and to take part in the India Ship Technology Centre and in the shipbuilding skills partnership between India and the Korea International Cooperation Agency. He sought practical suggestions from the community on three issues: how to improve shipyard productivity and project execution, how to build a globally competitive skilled workforce, and how Indian and Korean industries can deepen cooperation in technology, manufacturing and innovation.