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India and Panama have agreed to expand their maritime partnership by strengthening cooperation across logistics, shipping, maritime security, digital transformation and skill development. During bilateral talks held in New Delhi, both countries discussed improving shipping connectivity, promoting port modernisation, enhancing maritime education and advancing green maritime initiatives. The discussions also covered technical collaboration between maritime authorities, digital port systems and artificial intelligence. India reiterated Panama's strategic importance as a gateway to Latin America and the Caribbean, while both sides agreed to pursue stronger institutional partnerships and accelerate discussions on future maritime agreements.
India and Panama have agreed to deepen their maritime cooperation, identifying logistics, shipping, maritime security, skill development and digital transformation as the key areas for expanding their strategic partnership. The understanding was reached during bilateral talks in New Delhi between Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and Panama's Minister of Foreign Affairs Javier Eduardo Martinez-Acha Vasquez.
During the meeting, Sonowal said India and Panama are natural maritime partners whose combined strengths can help build resilient supply chains, improve global connectivity and create new opportunities for trade, investment, innovation and sustainable growth. He added that both countries aim to make this partnership an important part of India's engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean.
According to an official statement, both sides reaffirmed their long-standing maritime relationship, which dates back to the 19th century, and acknowledged the contribution of the Indian diaspora in strengthening bilateral ties over the years.
The discussions also recognised India's growing position as a major global ports and maritime nation and Panama's role as one of the world's leading maritime logistics hubs. Both countries agreed that greater collaboration, knowledge sharing and exchange of best practices could create new opportunities for trade, connectivity and investment across the Americas.
Panama outlined four priority areas for expanding maritime cooperation. These include strengthening maritime security, increasing technical cooperation between India's Directorate General of Shipping and the Panama Maritime Authority, enhancing maritime education and skill development, and working together on digital maritime transformation through artificial intelligence, smart port logistics and maritime single-window systems.
Highlighting India's maritime sector, Sonowal referred to the country's ongoing transformation through investments in ports, shipping, inland waterways, logistics, shipbuilding, cruise tourism and green maritime initiatives. In recent years, the government has also launched programmes such as the Maritime India Vision 2030 and the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 to improve port efficiency, expand logistics infrastructure and position India as a global maritime hub.
The minister reiterated that Panama serves as India's natural gateway to Central America, Latin America and the Caribbean. He stressed the need to improve shipping connectivity, strengthen logistics partnerships and accelerate institutional cooperation to unlock the untapped potential of bilateral trade.
As part of the discussions, Sonowal proposed speeding up talks on a bilateral agreement covering maritime transportation and port development. He also suggested expanding cooperation in green ship recycling, improving seafarer welfare and skill development, and increasing collaboration in port modernisation, warehousing, digital innovation and maritime infrastructure.
The meeting also included an invitation to Panama's Minister of Maritime Affairs to participate in India Maritime Week 2026, scheduled to be held in New Delhi, with both countries agreeing to continue discussions through stronger institutional cooperation.
Source PTI
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