French shipping giant CMA CGM is in advanced negotiations with Indian shipyards to build liquefied natural gas (LNG) container ships. The company’s container ships “CMA CGM Vitoria” and “CMA CGM Manaus” have officially entered the Indian flag and and a new Indian shipping company has been established in GIFT City, Gujarat.
It is worth noting that the CMA CGM Vitoria is the first large container ship to be re-registered in India and classified by the Indian Register of Shipping (IRCLASS).
Currently, CMA CGM is actively expanding its business in India, covering areas such as shipping, container terminals, shipbuilding, multimodal logistics and maritime industry development. Its Indian expansion plan is based on five core pillars: cooperation in shipbuilding, expanding the size of the Indian fleet, improving inland logistics efficiency, promoting innovation and increasing investment in the marine industry.
In addition to its shipbuilding business, CMA CGM is planning to invest in port and inland infrastructure projects in India, including the $200 million Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal expansion and the upcoming Vadhavan Port project; and has shown interest in India’s ship recycling industry, especially in the Alang region, intending to purchase containers and green steel from Indian manufacturers to support its global sustainable development goals.
CMA CGM has had several contacts with Indian officials before. On June 12, T K Ramachandran, Secretary of the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India, visited CMA CGM’s global headquarters in Marseille, France. This visit followed the official visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to France in February this year, during which Modi met with CMA CGM executives.
During the visit in February this year, the leaders of France and India discussed India’s maritime potential and the global partnerships being promoted, particularly the implementation plan for the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) announced at the G20 summit in New Delhi in September 2023. Both sides agreed to cooperate more closely on the implementation of IMEC.
During a visit to Marseille on June 12, CMA CGM’s senior management team shared with the Indian delegation the progress made since Modi’s visit in February.
To date, CMA CGM has employed more than 2,200 digital professionals in India and is considering setting up shipping research and innovation centers in major cities in India to support the future development and innovation of the shipping industry.