With the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit (VGGS) scheduled for January 2027, the state has initiated steps to strengthen India's maritime leadership. The EoI is not a tender or project allocation process; rather, it is a market-sounding exercise aimed at gathering suggestions from global investors on technology, financing models, project design, and commercial structures. These inputs will form the basis for future Requests for Qualification (RFQs) and Requests for Proposal (RFPs).

Three Projects, One Maritime Vision

The Gujarat government has invited global interest for six greenfield ports; three greenfield shipbuilding and ship repair yards; and an integrated shipbuilding cluster, which will also promote marine equipment manufacturing.

According to the location maps released with the EoIs, the identified coastal sites include Nana Layja, Mithapur, Bhogat, Kutchhdi (shipbuilding cluster), Vadodara Zala, Vadhera, Ghogha-Lakhanka, and Damka.

The Maritime Bet

Gujarat has an approximately 2,340-kilometre-long coastline — the longest in the country. It currently has 48 non-major ports, which handled around 484 million metric tonnes (MMT) of cargo during FY2025–26, accounting for more than 64% of India's total non-major port traffic. Further, Gujarat contributes approximately 29% of the country's total port cargo traffic.

The EoI for shipbuilding projects has been issued under the Shipbuilding & Repair Policy Gujarat 2026. The policy aims to position Gujarat as a global hub for shipbuilding, ship repair, marine equipment manufacturing, and allied industries. The document also highlights India's national objective of becoming one of the world's leading shipbuilding nations by 2047.

Through the EoI, the government is seeking suggestions from industry stakeholders on port capacity, cargo mix, financial models, smart port technologies, ESG [Environmental, Social, and Governance] framework, connectivity, bankability, concession model, and project structuring.

These recommendations will serve as the foundation for preparing the upcoming RFPs.

Why This Initiative Matters

Gujarat has long been India's leading port state. However, the government now intends to move beyond cargo handling alone. The state's new strategy indicates its ambition to dominate the entire maritime value chain, including ports, shipbuilding, ship repair, marine manufacturing, and logistics. If these proposed projects are successfully implemented, Gujarat's coastline could evolve over the next decade into not only a gateway for trade but also India's largest maritime industrial ecosystem.

Under the guidance of Dr. Ajay Kumar, Vice Chairman & CEO, GMB, the maritime board has issued global EoIs for the development of greenfield ports, greenfield shipyards, and an integrated shipbuilding cluster. The EoI process is being coordinated by B.B. Talavia, General Manager (PPP), GMB.