India-South Korea Maritime Cooperation: India Looks to Build Global Maritime Competence Through Strategic Partnerships with Hanwha Ocean and HD Hyundai.
India Minister visits Hanwha Ocean’s Site in South Korea.
Geoje, South Korea, November 15, 2025 – In a move to bolster India’s commercial fleet capacity and maritime infrastructure, Hardeep Singh Puri, India’s Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, visited Hanwha Ocean’s shipbuilding facility in Geoje, South Korea, to discuss growing collaboration between India and South Korea’s maritime sectors. The visit is part of Puri’s ongoing engagement with South Korea to explore the potential for expanding shipbuilding, fleet development, and energy transportation capabilities under India’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
The strategic importance of this partnership lies in India’s growing demand for freight and vessel construction, with state-owned energy companies spending approximately INR 40,000–64,000 crore (USD 5–8 billion) annually on freight. The Minister highlighted the need for nearly 59 vessels to meet the increasing transportation demand and emphasized South Korea’s technological superiority in shipbuilding, which, when combined with India’s skilled workforce and supportive policies, could lead to a transformative partnership in the maritime sector.
During his visit, Puri toured Hanwha Ocean’s advanced facilities, where he observed innovative shipbuilding processes that could be integrated into India’s domestic shipbuilding ecosystem. The collaboration, in alignment with India’s Make in India initiative, aims to not only fulfill India’s growing needs but also position India as a global maritime hub.
This partnership aligns with India’s focus on maritime self-reliance, with government measures such as 15–25 percent capital support for domestic vessel construction and a 3 percent interest subvention scheme. Puri also met with officials from HD Hyundai and Korea’s leading shipping companies to discuss opportunities for collaboration, further strengthening the strategic ties between the two nations.
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