Maharashtra To Unveil Country's Most Investor-Friendly Maritime Policy: Nitesh Rane

Maharashtra is set to unveil its most investor-friendly maritime policy, according to state Minister Nitesh Narayan Rane. Speaking at the FICCI’s Maritime India Conference & Expo 2026, Rane emphasized that the upcoming policy will offer single-window clearances and dedicated administrative support to maritime enterprises. He highlighted a recent tripartite agreement between the Maharashtra government, the Centre, and Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders to build the country's largest shipyard, which involves a Rs 26,500 crore investment and is expected to generate employment for around 50,000 people.

Rane also noted that all memoranda signed by Maharashtra at last year's India Maritime Summit have since turned into actual investments. The administration had issued its dedicated policy on shipbuilding, repair, and recycling within its first 100 days in office, simplifying the process for project developers to obtain environmental permissions and complete land acquisition.

FICCI President-Elect Vijay Sankar observed that major ports in India handled 915 million tonnes of cargo in the fiscal year 2025-26, indicating a 7% annual growth rate surpassing projections. Sankar outlined three core priorities: developing integrated logistics, aligning private capital with central policies, and increasing the economic value of maritime freight by transporting more domestic cargo on Indian-flagged vessels.

Dutch Consul Thierry Van Helden encouraged stakeholders to transform bilateral ambitions into commercially viable ventures, with a Dutch shipbuilding trade delegation planning to visit India in February 2027.