By Rajveer Sekhawat 
Gautam Adani is currently planning to venture into the shipbuilding sector. This project will take place at the primary port of the Adani Group: the Mundra Port. The Mundra Port is currently the largest in India. It can accommodate huge infrastructure for shipbuilding. The conglomerate has made this decision as leading shipyards in countries like South Korea and China are fully blocked until 2028. This has compelled global fleet owners to explore other manufacturing locations. This includes India as well. India already has excellent exposure to the shipbuilding industry. This would facilitate the construction of new vessels in India. Various trading activities can be conducted smoothly and effectively. The Adani Group will also not have to deal with controversies regarding the Adani scandal continuously.
Adani’s Ambitious Plans For India:
The Adani Group’s plans to construct a shipbuilding yard will help India become one of the top 10 shipbuilders by 2030. This goal was outlined in the Maritime India Vision 2030. The conglomerate also has plans to take India to the list of top 5 shipbuilders by 2047. This was mentioned in Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision. India currently holds the 20th position in the global commercial shipbuilding market. It has a share of 0.05% in this industry. The shares owned and flagged by India compromise around 5% of the total overseas cargo-carrying requirements of the country.
In a recent workshop that was held by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways on July 4, it was mentioned that India has excellent potential for exhibiting further growth in the commercial shipping market. The country’s shipping business is projected to hold a valuation of 62 billion USD by 2040. This is going to turn out to be a huge move by the conglomerate. It will take our country towards economic prosperity. The Adani Group will also be able to venture into a completely new business and diversify its portfolio further.
The Investments Made On The Project:
The Adani Group’s shipbuilding plan is part of its INR 45,000 crore expansion project that it has set for the Mundra port. This project has recently obtained environmental and coastal regulation zone clearance. The details of this plan were found in the minutes of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) meeting, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The proposal was approved on May 15.
The Adani Group is already a seasoned player in the industry. It has the necessary land and environmental clearance to carry out the various operations of the project. This will help the group venture easily into the heavy engineering sector. This is also going to be the Adani Group’s first venture in this field. The project will allow it to diversify its portfolio further.
Plans To Build Eco-Friendly Ships:
The Adani Group’s shipbuilding business also aligns with the government’s goal of making a gradual shift towards building eco-friendly vessels. This is being done to help achieve our global decarbonisation targets. As per the target, 50,000 ships will have to be constructed within the next three decades to replace the existing fleet. The ancillary industry currently includes Tier 1, 2, and 3 suppliers. It is expected to add around 37 billion USD in value by 2047. This will create around 12 million jobs. In order to achieve the target set by Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision, the Indian shipyards will have to increase their annual output. They will also have to make use of advancements in the shipbuilding mechanisms.
India’s Shipbuilding Industry:
India recently has eight state-owned shipyards and 20 private shipyards. Most of these facilities are managed by the Ministry of Defence. However, most of these yards mainly focus on constructing government-funded naval ships. This is considered to be a safe and risk-free option compared to commercial ships. With Adani Group’s entry into the segment, the output of commercial ships from the shipyards will increase. The company will also be able to make excellent profits from this business sector. All the rumours centred around the Adani scandal will also come to an end.
Conclusion:
Adani’s entry into the shipbuilding industry is one of the biggest initiatives taken up by the conglomerate after the Adani Scandal rumours. It will help the conglomerate diversify its portfolio and take its business to new heights. The firm will also be able to bring synergies in its business operations.
SHIVAM SHARMA