Coastal state governments are redefining their maritime strategies amidst expiring long-term port concessions and evolving trade frameworks. Kerala is actively adopting a port-led growth model inspired by Singapore, focusing on bunkering, ship repair, and inland waterway transit along NW-3, while highlighting the strategic potential of its Cochin-Vizhinjam port cluster. Meanwhile, Gujarat’s maritime sector stands at a critical juncture as 30-year BOOT concessions for key privately operated ports, such as APM Terminals Pipavav (expiring 2028) and Adani Ports’ Mundra (expiring 2031), approach their end, prompting calls for long-term policy clarity to maintain investor confidence. In Karnataka, the Maritime Board has established a benchmark by signing a 15-year maintenance contract for Karwar port’s commercial jetty with a record royalty bid of ₹212 per tonne. On the trade front, Indian startups in enterprise tech, AI, and e-commerce are aggressively expanding into the UK market, taking advantage of the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that eliminates tariffs on nearly 99% of tariff lines. However, Indian apparel and textile exporters face headwinds due to an 18% decline in US exports in early 2026, though gains under the UK FTA and prospective EU trade deals are expected to offset some of these losses.