Sarbhanand Sonowal invites Korean companies to India's shipbuilding, advocates universal maritime rules.

With the aim of taking India’s shipbuilding industry to new heights, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbanand Sonowal recently invited leading Korean shipbuilding companies to invest and cooperate in India at a maritime summit. He said that Korea’s advanced technology, prefabrication and environmentally‑friendly construction processes can align with India’s “Make in India” initiative, accelerating the modernization of the country’s naval and commercial fleets. On this occasion, Korean delegates discussed potential areas of joint ventures, technology transfer and skill training with Indian companies, including LNG‑fueled vessels, hydrogen‑propelled ships and automated construction processes.

Sonowal also advocated for parity in international maritime regulations, noting that the current diversity of rules among many countries creates competitive inequities. He said that emission limits, safety standards and ballast water treatment regulations set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) should be applied uniformly to all nations, to ensure both environmental protection and fair trade. From this perspective, India’s objective is not only domestic …