Splash247: India nets $7bn in fresh investment from DP World and Maersk

India’s ambitions to become a global maritime powerhouse have gained major momentum, with Dubai-based DP World and Danish group APM Terminals announcing fresh investments worth more than $7bn combined to expand port and logistics infrastructure across the country.

The announcements, made during India Maritime Week 2025, underscore India’s growing pull for foreign port operators as it rolls out large-scale reforms under its Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.

DP World will invest an additional $5bn to strengthen its integrated supply chain and logistics network in India, taking its total commitment to about $8bn over three decades.

The funding will support multimodal connectivity, lower logistics costs, and drive export competitiveness, the company said.

The new pledge follows the signing of five memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Indian maritime authorities, covering green coastal shipping, ship repair, skill development, and freight mobility.

Among the key partnerships, DP World’s feeder operator, Unifeeder, signed an MoU with Sagarmala Finance Corporation to promote sustainable coastal shipping; Drydocks World and Cochin Shipyard Limited agreed to expand ship repair facilities in Kochi; while DP World also inked a deal with Deendayal Port Authority and Nevomo (MagRail) to pilot India’s first automated low-emission port track system.

Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, said the investment reflects “a shared commitment to building a connected, confident, and self-reliant India.”

Meanwhile, APM Terminals Pipavav signed an MoU with the Gujarat Maritime Board for a $2bn expansion of the Pipavav port, one of India’s most efficient private gateways.

The investment is part of A.P. Moller – Maersk’s $5bn India infrastructure plan, first unveiled earlier this year, and will significantly enhance Pipavav’s container, liquid, and roro handling capacity.

APM Terminals Asia & Middle East CEO Jon Goldner said the expansion aims to “unlock new opportunities for Gujarat, for India, and for global trade,” calling Pipavav a model of “world-class efficiency and green growth.”

The upgraded facilities are expected to generate around 25,000 jobs, strengthen multimodal connectivity with the dedicated freight corridor, and serve key industries such as automotive, energy, and agriculture.

Together, the new commitments by DP World and APM Terminals highlight the accelerating pace of port investment in India, alongside other billion-dollar moves on all things shipping, including plans to add more than 430 ships worth a combined $26bn.