Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Chairs Inaugural Sagar Samvad in New Delhi

Key facts

• The inaugural edition of Sagar Samvad, a dialogue by the National Shipping Board (NSB), was held in New Delhi and chaired by Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
• The NSB pressed for a five-point roadmap including fiscal reform, assured cargo support, competitive financing, regulatory streamlining, and ease of doing business to add 100 vessels to India's merchant fleet over five years.
• The event was themed 'Charting the Roadmap Towards Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047'.
• India pays approximately $75 billion annually in freight to foreign shipping lines, as highlighted by Minister of State Shantanu Thakur.
• The Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme worth ₹10,000 crore has led to global shipping major Maersk ordering containers built in India.
• The NSB is a statutory advisory body under the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and its chairperson Sameer Kumar Khare submitted the board's annual report for 2025-26.