‘Build ships, build trust,’ Defence Minister urges global collaboration at Samudra Utkarsh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday called on global maritime players to partner with India’s rapidly expanding shipbuilding industry, stressing that the nation’s shipyards, capable of delivering everything from aircraft carriers to research vessels, are poised to become a global hub for shipbuilding, ship repair, and maritime innovation.

Delivering the keynote address at Samudra Utkarsh, a seminar organised by the Department of Defence Production, showcasing the capabilities of Indian shipyards here on Tuesday, he said Indian shipyards are “vital pillars of our emerging Blue Economy” and urged international collaborators to co-develop next-generation maritime capabilities and resilient, sustainable supply chains.

Advertisement

The Defence Minister asserted that the Indian shipbuilding industry, composed of the spirited Public Sector Undertakings and dynamic private sector partners, safeguards national interests regionally and globally, and India stands ready to help shape the maritime century by ‘building not only ships, but trust’; ‘not only platforms, but partnerships’.

“What truly sets India apart is its integrated end-to-end shipbuilding ecosystem. From concept design and modular construction to outfitting, refit, repairs, and full life cycle support, every stage of the shipbuilding process is indigenously developed and executed. Our public and private shipyards, backed by thousands of MSMEs, have created a robust value chain that spans steel, propulsion, electronics, sensors, and advanced combat systems,” he said.

Singh highlighted that India’s shipbuilding ecosystem stands on the strength of multiple world-class platforms that reflect technological maturity and industrial depth. He pointed out that flagship projects, such as India’s first indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, Kalvari-class submarines, and stealth frigates & destroyers, underline not only the naval strength of the country but also the expanding design capability, automation, and systems integration expertise.

He further added that Indian shipyards are emerging as major players in the global commercial and dual-use maritime industry, mentioning the high-end passenger and cargo vessels, coastal ferries, pollution-control and research ships, and the world’s most advanced deep-sea mining support vessel for ISRO and the National Institute of Ocean Technology. He commended the private sector for rising as a force multiplier by producing green-fuel vessels, LNG carriers, Roll-On Roll-Off vessels, and high-efficiency commercial ships for domestic use and global clients.

“We are capable of delivering aircraft carriers to advanced research vessels and energy-efficient commercial ships. This integrated capability positions India strongly to become a global hub for shipbuilding, ship repair, and maritime innovation in the coming decade,” Singh said.

“Our shipyards on both coasts now operate modern fabrication lines, advanced material-handling systems, automated design tools, model testing facilities, and digital shipyard technologies. These are all aligned with the global benchmarks,” he added.