As India accelerates investments in ports, waterways, shipping, shipbuilding and maritime infrastructure to strengthen its position as a leading global maritime nation, Hon’ble Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal has emphasized that cybersecurity must become a foundational pillar of the country’s smart port ecosystem.
Addressing the National Port Security Conference 2026, the Union Minister said India’s maritime sector has emerged as a key pillar of the nation’s development journey, driven by unprecedented investments that are creating new opportunities for trade, employment and innovation. He noted that while digital initiatives are making the maritime ecosystem more integrated, transparent and efficient, they also bring greater responsibility to safeguard critical digital infrastructure.
“Smart port must also be cyber secure port,” the Union Minister said, underlining the growing importance of cyber resilience as India’s ports increasingly embrace digital technologies.
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted flagship initiatives such as e-Samudra, the Maritime Single Window, and the One Nation, One Port Process, stating that these reforms are streamlining port operations, enhancing transparency and improving ease of doing business across the maritime sector.
However, the Union Minister cautioned that greater digital adoption also expands the cyber threat landscape.
“Greater digitization also means greater responsibility to protect our networks, data and critical systems,” he said, adding that cybersecurity should remain an integral component of every new digital initiative.
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AI, Automation and Cybersecurity Must Go Together
Highlighting the growing adoption of Artificial Intelligence, Automation and Digital Platforms across Indian ports, the Union Minister stressed that technological advancement must be accompanied by robust cybersecurity measures.
“As we adopt AI, automation and digital platforms, cybersecurity resilience must remain integral to every new system,” he said.
With ports worldwide witnessing an increase in cyber threats targeting operational technology, logistics systems and critical infrastructure, the Union Minister emphasized that building cyber resilience is essential to ensuring safe, secure and efficient maritime operations.
Growth and Security Go Hand in Hand
Reiterating the Government’s broader maritime vision, the Union Minister referred to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) initiative, describing it as the guiding philosophy for India’s maritime development.
“Growth and security are not competing objectives. They reinforce each other,” he said, noting that economic progress and national security must advance together to support sustainable maritime growth.
India’s Maritime Sector Poised for Global Leadership
The Union Minister observed that India’s maritime sector is steadily emerging as a major driver of economic growth, supported by significant investments in ports, inland waterways, shipping, shipbuilding and maritime infrastructure.
According to him, these investments are strengthening India’s logistics ecosystem while creating new opportunities for trade, employment and innovation, reinforcing the country’s ambition to become one of the world’s leading maritime nations.
As India continues to modernize its ports and embrace advanced digital technologies, the emphasis on cybersecurity is expected to play an increasingly critical role in protecting maritime infrastructure, ensuring supply chain resilience and supporting the nation’s long-term maritime growth strategy.
