India and the Netherlands have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Maritime Cooperation and a Letter of Intent (LoI) to establish a Green and Digital Sea Corridor during the India Maritime Week 2025 in Mumbai.

The agreements were signed in the presence of Sarbananda Sonowal, India’s Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, and Robert Tieman, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands.

The collaboration aims to strengthen cooperation in green shipping, port development, digital transformation, inland waterways, and shipbuilding.

The proposed Green and Digital Sea Corridor will connect Indian ports with the Port of Rotterdam, facilitating sustainable and efficient maritime connectivity.

The initiative is expected to promote clean energy transitions through fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol, while enhancing digital port operations and logistics innovation to accelerate decarbonisation in the maritime sector.

According to Minister Tieman, the Dutch parliament has encouraged closer collaboration with India for geopolitical reasons. He said that the Netherlands aims to build a long-term, durable partnership with India, adding that maritime cooperation between the two countries has existed in the past but now needs to advance to a higher level.

He indicated that the Netherlands is focusing on selected strategic nations and has prioritised the maritime manufacturing industry as a key sector.

Tieman explained that the Netherlands excels in producing specialised vessels, including military ships, yachts, and dredgers, and has launched projects such as the “Shipyard of the Future” under its maritime innovation fund.

He further mentioned that the Netherlands intends to increase investment in military vessels due to geopolitical and NATO-related priorities, and discussions with India on this aspect would take place through defence ministries.

Tieman also mentioned that the Netherlands is open to cultural collaboration with India, including supporting the planned maritime museum in Gujarat through the exchange of maritime exhibits and artworks.

Several business agreements were also formalised on the sidelines of the event. These included:

• An MoU between Invest International, Indian Bank, and ICICI Bank to promote cooperation in maritime financing;
• A pact between Dutch Climate Fund Managers and their Indian counterpart related to India’s Maritime Development Fund;
• An MoU between the Maritime Research Institute Netherlands (MARIN) and the National Centre of Excellence for Green Ports and Shipping to conduct joint research on green shipping technologies; and
• An agreement between the Port of Rotterdam and the Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla Port) for institutional cooperation and digital knowledge exchange.

During the event, a Dutch-funded report titled “Indian Ports: Enabling Smart and Sustainable Port Development” was also launched. The study, prepared by KPMG, evaluates India’s port infrastructure and highlights opportunities for sustainable and digital transformation.

Minister Sonowal called the Netherlands a special friend and valued partner, saying the partnership would promote innovation and sustainability in the maritime sector.

References: indianexpress, indiashippingnews