India & Singapore Sign LOI for Green & Digital Shipping Corridor
India and Singapore have signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) for maritime digitalisation (Digital Corridor Collaboration) and Decarbonisation (Green Shipping). The partnership aims to identify key stakeholders and pave the way for a Singapore-India Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) through a formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
India, with its strong IT sector, has the potential to become a major producer and exporter of green marine fuels, while Singapore, a key transshipment and bunkering hub, fosters a robust research and innovation ecosystem. Once established, the GDSC will accelerate the adoption of zero or near-zero emission technologies and drive digital transformation in shipping.
Speaking on the occasion, the Union Minister, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “The signing of this landmark LOI marks the bilateral collaboration as a significant step towards modernising maritime operations and advancing green shipping efforts. The Singapore-India Green and Digital Shipping Corridor will drive innovation, accelerate the adoption of low-emission technologies, and strengthen digital integration in the sector, allowing us to move India towards realising the vision of PM Shri Narendra Modiji’s ‘Viksit Bharat’. With India’s strength in Information Technology and green fuel production, along with Singapore’s role as a global maritime hub, this partnership will set new benchmarks in sustainability and efficiency in the maritime sector. We look forward to work closely to build a resilient, future ready maritime ecosystem that benefits both nations and the global maritime industry.”
Seeking the Global Dutch Expertise for revamping India’s waterways rivers like Barak and Brahmaputra, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal said, “With their rich experience and global expertise in dredging, river engineering, we can enable our diverse and rich riverine system with effective dredging techniques, modern inland vessel technology & water management. The Netherlands' expertise in shallow-draft push barges, modular inland vessels, & LNG-powered river transport presents a valuable opportunity for India. We are keen to adapt these technologies to enhance cargo movement in low-draft rivers like the Brahmaputra & Barak, making inland waterways more efficient, sustainable, & economically viable. We see great potential for Dutch collaboration in India’s major projects like the Jal Marg Vikas Project (JMVP) and Brahmaputra River dredging. This will help us realise the vision of PM Shri Narendra Modi ji to empower the Northeast as the New Engine of Growth for an Atmanirbhar Bharat charting its course on becoming a Viksit country.”
