India and Singapore took a bold step toward sustainable shipping today, signing a Letter of Intent (LoI) to establish a Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC). The agreement, inked during Singapore Maritime Week, aims to fuse digital innovation with decarbonization, accelerating the adoption of zero or near-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emission technologies.

The LoI, signed by R. Lakshmanan of India’s Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) and Teo Eng Dih of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), sets the stage for deeper collaboration. Witnessed by India’s Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Singapore’s Senior Minister of State Amy Khor, the pact builds on a shared vision to revolutionize maritime trade. Sonowal, leading a high-level delegation, emphasized that this “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership” will strengthen ties between the two nations.

The GDSC will link India’s burgeoning maritime sector with Singapore’s global shipping hub, leveraging India’s IT prowess and green fuel potential alongside Singapore’s trans-shipment and innovation ecosystem. Since its inception in 2022, the initiative has rallied over 28 stakeholders from maritime, energy, and finance sectors. Plans include a formal memorandum of understanding to solidify this alliance.

Sonowal’s three-day visit coincides with Singapore Maritime Week (March 24-28), a global event hosting 20,000 delegates. Khor hailed the LoI as proof of Singapore’s dedication to maritime innovation, while the joint MPA-MoPSW release underscored its role in driving sustainable solutions. As the world watches, this corridor promises to redefine shipping—making it greener, smarter, and more connected.