Vizhinjam is poised to become India’s largest port within the next decade, setting a new benchmark in the nation’s maritime and port trade, according to K.N.Balagopal, Kerala’s Finance Minister.

Speaking at the Vizhinjam Conclave 2025 and Global Investment Summit, he emphasized the port’s transformative potential in establishing India as a significant player in the global shipping and logistics market.

Organized by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation in association with Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the summit brought together key stakeholders to discuss the port’s strategic importance.

The Minister hailed Vizhinjam as a game-changer for India’s maritime sector, underscoring its natural deep-water capabilities, with depths ranging from 18 to 25 meters, and its proximity to international shipping lanes, which allow it to accommodate the world’s largest vessels.

Currently capable of handling one million TEUs, the port is expected to expand its capacity to 6.2 million TEUs in the future. With this growth, Vizhinjam is projected to manage 15 per cent of India’s container transshipment, challenging the dominance of ports like Colombo and Dubai.

He highlighted Vizhinjam’s role in propelling Kerala toward becoming a $1 trillion economy, supported by the State’s robust infrastructure, including air connectivity through four international airports, two major seaports, and 17 minor ports, as well as a vast inland navigation network.

Efforts to complement the port’s development include plans by the Kerala Maritime Board and private stakeholders to establish logistics parks and modernize existing ports. An outer growth corridor spanning 70 km from Vizhinjam to Navaikulam will house industrial clusters with plug-and-play infrastructure to attract investors.

Industries Minister P. Rajeeve outlined plans for a large-scale outer area growth corridor. The project aims to address land constraints by pooling resources to create residential, commercial, and industrial zones, ensuring conducive environment for investors through seamless collaboration between political leadership, bureaucracies, and the industrial sector.

Shashi Tharoor MP noted that Vizhinjam has been a bustling port since the Sangam period in the 4th century. He added that the addition of a cruise terminal would elevate Vizhinjam’s status beyond a transshipment hub, turning it into a major tourism destination. This development, he said, would benefit not only Kerala but also the southern tip of Tamil Nadu, enabling local products and services to reach the global market and fostering the growth of industries in the region.

Published on January 28, 2025