Delhi, 14 June (H.S.): T.K. Ramachandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, visited CMA CGM's global headquarters in Marseille on 12th June 2025. This visit followed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s earlier engagement with the company during his February trip to France, which highlighted India's maritime growth and global partnerships. During his visit, Ramachandran met CMA CGM executives who detailed the company's expanding operations in India, focusing on shipping, shipbuilding, container terminals, and multimodal logistics. They reviewed progress on the India Strategy, centered on five pillars: expanding the Indian-flagged fleet, shipbuilding collaboration, inland logistics, maritime investment, and innovation.

Notable developments include the launch of Indian-flagged vessels CC VITORIA and CC Manaus, and the establishment of a new shipping entity in Gujarat's GIFT City. Discussions also involved advanced talks for LNG-powered container vessels and significant investments like a $200 million expansion at Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal. CMA CGM expressed interest in India's ship recycling sector, particularly in Alang, and plans to source containers and green steel from India. The delegation included key leaders such as Patrice Bergamini and Ludovic Renou, and the visit aimed to enhance connectivity and innovation in the India-Europe maritime corridor.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar