The agreement between the University of Delhi and the Centre for Maritime Economy and Connectivity (CMEC) at the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) aims to enhance maritime education, research, and capacity building in line with India's long-term maritime goals.

Addressing a seminar titled "Blue Economy: Its Imperatives for a Viksit Bharat," Sonowal said, "As we move towards Viksit Bharat, the maritime sector will play an even more transformative role in driving India's economic growth, trade competitiveness and sustainable development. By strengthening the maritime talent pipeline-the core objective of this MoU-we are building a robust ecosystem to meet the growing demand for world-class maritime professionals, both in quality and scale, positioning India as a global leader in the sector. Under PM Narendra Modi ji's vision, India is aligning education, policy & innovation to emerge as a global maritime leader."

The minister highlighted India's strategic maritime advantages, citing its coastline of over 11,000 kilometres and 111 national waterways. He stressed that enhancing the maritime ecosystem is a national priority, underscored by the SAGAR and MAHASAGAR doctrines, reflecting a commitment to regional cooperation, maritime security, and shared prosperity.

The MoU is designed to promote interdisciplinary collaboration between academic and policy institutions, focusing on skill development, capacity building, and research in emerging maritime fields. It includes cooperation on maritime course frameworks, joint research, training programmes, knowledge sharing, and student professional counselling.

Describing the partnership as a "forward-looking step," Sonowal said it bridges academia and industry, providing youth with opportunities to engage in India's growing maritime sector.

The Shipping Minister noted that human capital is central to India's maritime aspirations. He pointed out that the country's seafaring workforce has nearly tripled in the past 12 years and now accounts for about 12% of the global maritime workforce, with a goal of reaching 20% by 2030. "MoU between University of Delhi & CMEC to boost maritime education, research and skill development," he stated.

Sonowal further outlined that India's maritime transformation is driven by an integrated approach involving port modernisation, multi-modal connectivity, sustainability initiatives, and digitalisation, with flagship programmes such as Sagarmala and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 playing instrumental roles.

The collaboration will open new opportunities for students and researchers in maritime logistics, green shipping, supply chain management, and maritime policy, supporting the goal of a sustainable and globally competitive Blue Economy.

Additionally, an MoU was signed between RIS and the Delhi School of Economics to promote joint programmes in public policy research and training.

The event was attended by senior officials, academic leaders, faculty members, and students, marking a significant step in integrating education, research, and policy in India's maritime sector.