Sarbananda Sonowal unveils first Made-in-India EXIM Grade Shipping Container at ICD Dadri for Maersk
Milestone Marks a New Chapter in India’s Container Manufacturing and Logistics Ecosystem
NEW DELHI : Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways Shri Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled the country’s first Made-in-India EXIM grade shipping container on Friday at Inland Container Depot (ICD) Dadri for deployment by global shipping major Maersk. The achievement marks a significant step towards building a self-reliant, globally competitive container manufacturing ecosystem under the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi.
The unveiling reflects the rapid progress made within just sixteen months of the Prime Minister’s vision to establish India as a global hub for container manufacturing. The indigenously manufactured EXIM-grade container meets international quality standards and is designed to support the seamless movement of export-import cargo across global trade routes.
The occasion was graced by H.E. Ms. Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India, along with senior government officials, industry leaders, representatives from Maersk, logistics stakeholders, and members of the trade fraternity.
Speaking on the occasion, it was highlighted that the initiative is a major milestone in strengthening India’s logistics resilience and reducing dependence on imported containers. Indigenous manufacturing is expected to improve container availability, lower logistics costs, enhance supply chain reliability, and provide a significant boost to India’s export competitiveness.
The initiative is being supported under the ₹10,000 crore Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme, which aims to develop a robust domestic manufacturing ecosystem capable of producing world-class containers for global markets. The scheme is expected to attract substantial investments, generate employment opportunities, promote technological advancement, and position India as a preferred manufacturing destination for maritime logistics equipment.
The first Made-in-India EXIM container supplied to Maersk demonstrates the confidence of leading global shipping lines in India’s manufacturing capabilities and quality standards. It also signifies the growing integration of Indian industry with global supply chains and reinforces India’s emergence as a trusted partner in international trade.
The milestone aligns with the Government of India’s broader vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, PM Gati Shakti, and the National Logistics Policy, all of which seek to build world-class logistics infrastructure, improve multimodal connectivity, reduce logistics costs, and enhance Ease of Doing Business for exporters and importers.
With rising global trade volumes and increasing demand for resilient supply chains, the development of a domestic container manufacturing industry is expected to play a transformative role in strengthening India’s position as a leading global maritime and logistics hub.
“Made in India – Moving the World” is no longer just a vision—it is becoming a reality, with Indian-manufactured containers now set to carry the nation’s trade across the world’s oceans, symbolising India’s growing manufacturing strength and global aspirations.
