While inaugurating the first Maritime India Summit (MIS) in Mumbai, Modi said that it is the “right time” to come and better through the “sea route”. “Our vision is to increase port capacity from 1,400 million tonnes to 3,000 million tonnes by 2025. We want to mobilise an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore in the port sector to enable this growth,” the Prime Minister said after opening the MIS 2016.

The Prime Minister said that Indian shipping sector is ready for “a long haul” and called upon investors not to miss out on “the pleasant journey and great destination”. Modi added, “It is even better time to come through the sea route. Once you are here, I assure you that I will personally hold your hands to see that your berthing is safe, secure and satisfactory.”

“With more than 14,000 kilometers of navigable inland waterways in the country, there is tremendous potential for development in this sector. My government is committed to integration in infrastructure. We are also committed to creating an enabling environment for investors and facilitating investments with an open mind,” he added.

“However, in this sector, no country can achieve the desired results in isolation. Nations have to collaborate to realise this potential and overcome challenges in this sector. The objective of this summit is to provide a platform and a forum for such cooperation,” he stressed.