Prime Minister's message to Sagarmanthan dialogue calls for a free, open, secure and rules-based maritime order

7 October 2026

Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a written message to the third edition of Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue, released by the Press Information Bureau on October 7, 2026.
The dialogue is organised by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways together with the Observer Research Foundation in New Delhi.
The message called for a free, open, secure and rules-based maritime order that brings peace and prosperity to all nations.
It said developments in one region can affect distant places, which makes ocean dialogue and cooperation more important than ever.
The message recalled India's maritime heritage, from the ancient port city of Lothal to the Chola dynasty and the naval vision of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
It noted that Indian seafarers form the second largest maritime workforce in the world, that major ports have nearly doubled their capacity with reduced turnaround times, and that India is preparing for a new era of shipbuilding and green shipping as part of the Viksit Bharat goal for 2047.