Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday flagged off the third edition of Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue, a three-day maritime conference that will bring more than 1,200 speakers, delegates and participants from nearly 75 countries to New Delhi from October 7 to 9.
The event, themed "Blue Geographies, New Aspirations: Trade, Technology, and Trust at Sea", is co-hosted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Observer Research Foundation, and will deliberate on the future of the global maritime sector across trade, technology, sustainability and cooperation.
A message for the world's oceans
In a written message to the conference, the Prime Minister called for a "free, open, secure and rules-based maritime order". Explaining the meaning of the word Sagarmanthan — the churning of the ocean — he linked it to the discovery of new possibilities, saying the oceans hold immense promise for the world's economies, people and the planet.
"India's relationship with the ocean is also about responsibility... We believe the oceans must become a source of shared prosperity, where every country has a voice and an opportunity to grow," his message read.
The flag-off came on the same day the Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned attacks on four commercial ships in the Black Sea amid the Russia-Ukraine war, all of which had Indian nationals on board. India has consistently opposed attacks on commercial shipping, whether in the Black Sea or at chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el Mandeb strait.
Ports, seafarers and new maritime laws
Modi also underlined India's growing contribution to the global seafarer workforce, noting that the country's major ports have nearly doubled their capacity while cutting turnaround times. The Deendayal Port Authority recently handled 9.63 lakh metric tonnes of cargo in a single day — a new national record — and four ports, including Deendayal, Paradip, Mundra and Jawaharlal Nehru, were notified as mega ports just weeks ago.
He added that India has brought in new-generation maritime laws over the last two years to create a modern framework for the sector, alongside fresh investment in ocean science and exploration, tying the push to the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal and the country's storied maritime history.
Sources: The Week — PM Modi flags off Sagarmanthan 2026; calls for 'rules-based order' amid global headwinds
The event, themed "Blue Geographies, New Aspirations: Trade, Technology, and Trust at Sea", is co-hosted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and the Observer Research Foundation, and will deliberate on the future of the global maritime sector across trade, technology, sustainability and cooperation.
A message for the world's oceans
In a written message to the conference, the Prime Minister called for a "free, open, secure and rules-based maritime order". Explaining the meaning of the word Sagarmanthan — the churning of the ocean — he linked it to the discovery of new possibilities, saying the oceans hold immense promise for the world's economies, people and the planet.
"India's relationship with the ocean is also about responsibility... We believe the oceans must become a source of shared prosperity, where every country has a voice and an opportunity to grow," his message read.
The flag-off came on the same day the Ministry of External Affairs strongly condemned attacks on four commercial ships in the Black Sea amid the Russia-Ukraine war, all of which had Indian nationals on board. India has consistently opposed attacks on commercial shipping, whether in the Black Sea or at chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab el Mandeb strait.
Ports, seafarers and new maritime laws
Modi also underlined India's growing contribution to the global seafarer workforce, noting that the country's major ports have nearly doubled their capacity while cutting turnaround times. The Deendayal Port Authority recently handled 9.63 lakh metric tonnes of cargo in a single day — a new national record — and four ports, including Deendayal, Paradip, Mundra and Jawaharlal Nehru, were notified as mega ports just weeks ago.
He added that India has brought in new-generation maritime laws over the last two years to create a modern framework for the sector, alongside fresh investment in ocean science and exploration, tying the push to the Viksit Bharat 2047 goal and the country's storied maritime history.
Sources: The Week — PM Modi flags off Sagarmanthan 2026; calls for 'rules-based order' amid global headwinds
