India, EU Launch Industry Coalition For Green Shipping Corridor To Speed-Up Shift To Low-Emission Fuels

At the 3rd edition of Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue, India and the European Union launched an industry alliance for the India-EU Green Shipping Corridor on Wednesday.

The coalition is expected to bring companies together to develop cleaner maritime trade routes and speed up the shift to low-emission fuels, said Vijay Kumar, the shipping secretary. Vijay Kumar also made the opening remarks. The launch came during the session titled “India-EU Green Shipping Corridor: Innovation, Action and Scale.” It was meant to outline a path from feasibility to execution and build a commercially viable, scalable corridor.

Opening up trade in green ammonia and methanol, the corridor aims to match India’s potential in green fuel production with the growing demand from Europe. The coalition was set up in 2026 after a feasibility study was launched the previous year. The initiative is on the path to implementation.

The event opened with a message from Prime Minister Modi calling for a free, open, secure and rules-based maritime order. He said, “The oceans do not separate us; they connect us.” The Dialogue was organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways with the Observer Research Foundation (ORF).

As India offers partnership to the world, Union Minister Saebananda Sonowal presented Maritime Amrit Kaal 2047, PM Gati Shakti and the Sagarmala programme.

ORF President Samir Saran said the global maritime order was going through “a great churning” of disruptions, technological changes and fragmentation. He also added that India aims to deliver a resilient supply chain, green shipping corridors, a strong shipbuilding ecosystem and a skilled workforce.

He said ports are now strategic assets that shape competitiveness, energy security and build trust between nations. The major ports in India have nearly doubled their capacity, and a modern legal framework is in place.

The first day attracted naval leaders, port authorities, shipbuilders, financiers and international bodies from five continents. Delegations from Australia, Belgium, Bhutan, the EU, Norway, France, South Korea, the UAE and many African nations came. The Asian Investment Bank, UN Trade and Development, and the African Union also took part.

The initial session, “Tides of Trust”, featured former Australian PM Kevin Rudd, Bhutan’s Chandra Bahadur Gurung, Belgium’s Annick De Ridder, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Krishna Swaminathan, and DP World CEO Rizwan Soomar.

The other sessions covered several areas, including India-Korea ties, IMEC governance (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor), Blue Economy, and Africa’s Corridors.