Speaking at a CII conference on export logistics, Minister of State for Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shantanu Thakur said India’s march toward becoming the world’s third‑largest economy hinges on an efficient maritime network. About 70 percent of the nation’s trade already moves by sea, he noted, so cutting ship turnaround times and harnessing artificial intelligence are essential. Thakur also called for a robust “first‑ and last‑mile” connectivity grid stretching from the Northeast to the Northwest.
Special Secretary Rajesh Agrawal highlighted three logistics imperatives: the container revolution that knit India into global value chains, the need for additional port/air/rail capacity (including cold‑chain links for agriculture), and a low‑carbon freight strategy to meet India’s 2070 net‑zero pledge. Inland Waterways Authority chair Vijay Kumar added that river corridors are crucial if India hopes to hit its $2‑trillion‑by‑2030 export target while keeping logistics costs in single digits.