A step that aligns the carrier’s interests with the ambitious “Make in India” program of the New Delhi government
Marseille – The French giant Cma Cgm is accelerating strategic plans in India, aiming to integrate the emerging Asian power into its global supply chain, as part of a broader trade diversification strategy. According to Journal of Commerce sources, the focus of this initiative is the exploration of significant shipbuilding capacity, a step that aligns the carrier’s interests with the ambitious “Make in India” program of the New Delhi government and with efforts to increase national maritime self-sufficiency. An official announcement regarding the shipbuilding projects is expected in the coming weeks, after months of advanced talks between the French group’s executives and major Indian entities in the sector, including Cochin Shipyard. Cma Cgm’s plans in India are structured around five key pillars: the expansion of the Indian-flagged fleet, collaboration for shipbuilding, the development of inland logistics, maritime industrial investments, and innovation. The company has already made concrete progress, establishing a new shipping entity at Gift City in Gujarat and registering its first Indian-flagged ships, such as the CC Vitoria and the CC Manaus. In the shipbuilding sector, the focus is particularly on the possibility of building large LNG-powered container ships. The partnership aims to capitalize on India’s growing industrial capacity and relatively competitive labor costs, offering a strategic alternative to shipyards in South Korea, China, and Japan. Beyond shipbuilding, Cma Cgm is committing significant capital to infrastructure projects, including a $200 million expansion of the Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal and interest in the upcoming Vadhavan port project, strengthening its presence along the western coast.
