<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Prime

Minister Narendra Modi’s high-profile visit to Gothenburg, Sweden, has yielded

a massive boost for India's maritime sector, with global shipping and logistics

titan A.P. Moller – Maersk reaffirming a deepened, long-term strategic

commitment to the country. Following a crucial bilateral meeting between PM

Modi and Maersk Chairman Robert Maersk Uggla over the weekend, the Danish

shipping major signaled major plans to heavily invest in India’s expanding

ports, container terminals, and landside logistics network. The high-level

discussions marked a significant milestone in a relationship spanning over a

century, aiming to rapidly modernize India's trade infrastructure and

seamlessly integrate domestic businesses into global supply chains.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Central to

the deliberations was the landmark India-European Union Free Trade Agreement,

which Maersk's chairman hailed as a transformative step for international trade

architecture. Robert Uggla congratulated PM Modi on the historic pact, noting

that it will act as a major catalyst for India’s emergence as a premier,

export-oriented maritime economy. Maersk and its specialized port-operating

arm, APM Terminals, emphasized that they are uniquely positioned to assist

Indian industries in leveraging the massive trade channels expected to open up

under the new India-EU framework.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Prime

Minister Modi showcased India’s rapid evolution into a global manufacturing and

logistical powerhouse, highlighting flagship domestic initiatives such as the

PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, the Sagarmala Project, and the National

Logistics Policy. Inviting Maersk to scale up its operations, the Prime

Minister encouraged deeper corporate engagement in inland waterways, digital

supply chains, automated warehousing, and integrated multimodal logistics. The

Indian side also strongly pitched investment opportunities in emerging sectors

like domestic shipbuilding and ship repair, which are designated pillars under

the country's long-term maritime development vision.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif">Sustainability

and ecological responsibility emerged as top priorities during the Gothenburg

meeting, with both sides reviewing collaborative opportunities in green

shipping and maritime decarbonization. As global trade shifts toward cleaner

operations, India and Maersk discussed joint frameworks for zero-emission

cleaner fuels, energy-efficient logistical frameworks, and sustainable port

ecosystems. This eco-friendly transition aligns closely with India’s ambitious

National Green Hydrogen Mission and its broader climate action commitments.<o:p></o:p></span></p>

<span style="font-size:11.0pt;line-height:107%;font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif;

mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-ansi-language:

EN-IN;mso-fareast-language:EN-US;mso-bidi-language:AR-SA">The shipping giant

also highlighted India’s pivotal role in its global operations, housing nearly

20,000 employees, which represents Maersk's largest workforce base anywhere in

the world. To sustain this extensive network, Maersk reiterated its commitment

to pouring heavy resources into specialized local skill development and

advanced maritime training programs. The renewed partnership directly aligns

with New Delhi's "Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047," aimed at

establishing India as a resilient, world-class trade hub and anchoring

long-term global investor confidence in the country's economic future.</span>