India, South Korea Set Sail on New Maritime Partnership

India and South Korea are set to deepen cooperation in shipbuilding, shipping, and maritime logistics under a broader framework being advanced during the South Korean President’s ongoing visit to India, aimed at strengthening strategic and economic ties between the two Indo-Pacific partners.

Outlining what he described as a “new voyage” in bilateral ties, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary (East) P Kumaran said the partnership has entered an advanced industrial phase.

He noted that the collaboration is moving beyond high-level diplomacy towards long-term capacity building, with a focus on transforming India’s shipbuilding and port infrastructure.

Kumaran highlighted that the private sector is already playing a central role in driving these initiatives. A key development is a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) involving South Korean shipbuilder HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) and Indian stakeholders.

“Several initiatives have been taken at the industry level. One includes a non-binding MoU between HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering and the identified cluster developer and facilitator,” he said.

The partnership aims to move beyond traditional trade by focusing on the infusion of advanced technology and the modernisation of existing infrastructure.

“Overall, the emphasis is on upgrading existing shipyards, including developing block fabrication facilities and setting up a new dry dock to construct large and specialised vessels,” Kumaran added.

He outlined a comprehensive plan to enhance the physical and technical capabilities of Indian shipyards to handle global-scale projects.

“We are also looking at financing and skill training. There will be cooperation in port infrastructure development, knowledge sharing, and workforce training. Financing will be another key area, with the Maritime Development Fund and the Korean Sites Development Partnership Funds supporting these initiatives,” he said.

Kumaran stressed that sustaining the partnership over the long term will depend on strengthening both human capital and financing mechanisms.

“If economic cooperation is like a ship, then financing and skills are the engines that keep it running,” he said.

These funding streams will support knowledge sharing and intensive skill development programmes to equip Indian workers to operate next-generation maritime technologies, including autonomous systems and advanced port equipment.

By combining South Korea’s technological expertise with India’s workforce and strategic location, the MEA aims to build a self-sustaining maritime ecosystem.

Kumaran said the focus remains on upgrading the existing shipbuilding ecosystem to position India as a competitive global hub for maritime manufacturing and autonomous port operations.

The framework comes at a time when both countries are looking to diversify and secure critical maritime supply chains amid evolving global trade dynamics.

India has been pushing to expand and modernise its shipbuilding capacity under its broader maritime development vision, while South Korea continues to be among the world’s leading shipbuilding nations with advanced technological capabilities.

The ongoing high-level visit is expected to accelerate discussions on investment flows, technology transfer, and joint manufacturing opportunities.

Officials on both sides view the maritime partnership as a key pillar of the India-South Korea special strategic relationship, with potential benefits for port-led industrial development and blue economy growth.

With expanding institutional and private-sector linkages, the collaboration signals a more structured and long-term maritime partnership between New Delhi and Seoul.