New Delhi, May 7 India’s maritime sector has witnessed a sharp rise in women’s participation, increasing by nearly 340 per cent since 2020, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said on Thursday.
Addressing the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue in the national capital, Sonowal said initiatives such as “Sagar Mein Samman” are helping create greater opportunities for women in the maritime sector by promoting dignity, inclusion and leadership. He said the transformation reflects the broader vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to strengthen the maritime economy while ensuring social empowerment.
“Through initiatives like ‘Sagar Mein Samman’, we are advancing dignity, inclusion and leadership opportunities for women in the maritime sector, which has seen a remarkable rise of about 340 percent since 2020,” Sonowal said during his keynote address.
The minister said India’s maritime strategy places equal emphasis on the “human element” alongside security, connectivity and sustainability. According to him, the Indian Ocean remains central to global trade, energy flows and supply chains, making stronger regional cooperation and resilience increasingly important.
“The Indian Ocean is not just a geographic space, but a global lifeline,” Sonowal said, stressing the need for collaborative approaches to address emerging maritime challenges.
The event was attended by Mauritius Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful and Yemen’s Minister of State Waleed Mohammed Al-Qadimi, among other ministers, policymakers, academics and industry leaders.
Sonowal said India’s maritime initiatives are aligned with frameworks such as SAGAR -- Security and Growth for All in the Region -- and MAHASAGAR, which seek to strengthen regional cooperation and promote equitable development across the Indian Ocean Region.
He also reiterated India’s commitment to acting as a “net security provider” in the region through humanitarian assistance, maritime surveillance and disaster response initiatives.
Emphasising the importance of collective action, Sonowal said no single country can tackle maritime challenges alone and called for greater cooperation based on transparency and respect for international law.
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