India and Saudi Arabia Set Sail for Enhanced Maritime Cooperation

India and Saudi Arabia have agreed to enhance maritime relations via a Joint Working Group. This initiative, discussed in a virtual meeting between Indian and Saudi ministers, aims to boost strategic partnerships, support maritime trade, and attract investment in port and shipping infrastructure.

In a move to bolster their strategic alliances, India and Saudi Arabia have announced plans to enhance maritime cooperation, confirmed through an official statement on Wednesday. A Joint Working Group (JWG) is set to be formed to focus on maritime cooperation, especially within the shipping and logistics sectors.

This decision was cultivated during a high-level virtual discussion between India's Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Saudi Arabia's Minister of Transport and Logistic Services, Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser. Sonowal emphasized the longstanding economic and socio-cultural ties between the two nations, which have now reached new heights through the establishment of a strategic partnership council.

Sonowal showcased recent developments, such as the new Jeddah–Mundra/Nhava Sheva shipping route by Saudi's Folk Maritime Services, designed to reduce transit time and cost. Collaboration on India's MAITRI digital platform was proposed to promote maritime trade harmonization. India remains as the Kingdom's second-largest trading partner with bilateral trade standing at USD 42 billion for FY 2024–25. The dialogue also highlighted investment opportunities, emphasizing India's Maritime Development Fund and major projects like Vadhavan and the Outer Harbour Project as prime investment avenues.