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Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his visit to Europe, stated India is rapidly working with international partners to build robust energy supply chains, aiming to cut the energy crunch that arose from the current geopolitical crises. During his visit to the Netherlands, PM Modi addressed a gathering of the Indian community, calling the current era a decade of calamities and uncertainty. Modi highlighted the COVID-19 pandemic, subsequent wars, and now an energy crisis, warning that if the current scenario is not resolved quickly, years of progress and achievements could be lost, delivering a huge blow to the global economy.
Speaking about the challenges facing the international community, the Indian Prime Minister said humanity is going through an exceptionally turbulent phase with uncertainty and economic stress. He added that the world first faced the Coronavirus Pandemic, followed by geopolitical conflicts and energy concerns, and these overlapping crises are testing the resilience of the global system, while warning of the consequences of inaction. Further, he said that unless we unite, the world will not be able to address the challenge of global security.
PM Modi's remarks came during his address to the Indian diaspora in the Netherlands, where he highlighted the growing strategic, economic, and cultural cooperation between India and the Netherlands. The Indian Prime Minister is currently on a five-nation visit from May 15 to May 20, with the UAE being the first stop of the diplomatic tour.
Earlier, during his meeting with the senior leadership of A.P. Moller–Maersk in Gothenburg, Sweden, the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored India’s growing push to modernise its maritime ecosystem and position itself as a major global logistics and shipping hub. During the interaction, PM Modi met Maersk Chairman Robert Maersk Uggla on the sidelines of his engagements in Sweden, where he has been holding talks with European industry leaders and government officials. Discussions reportedly centred on opportunities for investments in India’s ports, logistics infrastructure, and sustainable maritime solutions.
The talks assume significance as India accelerates efforts under its Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, aimed at transforming the country’s shipping and logistics capabilities through port-led development, improved multimodal connectivity, and adoption of green technologies. The government has been actively engaging global maritime companies to attract investments and technological expertise into the sector.
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Morocco is seeking to strengthen economic ties with India by positioning itself as a manufacturing and logistics gateway to European and African markets, targeting sectors such as automotive, aerospace, defence and advanced manufacturing. The move comes as Indian companies explore supply chain diversification and new export routes amid shifting global trade dynamics. The North African country is promoting its industrial ecosystem, trade agreements and transport infrastructure as a platform for Indian businesses looking to serve multiple markets from a single production base. Moroccan officials have highlighted the country's geographic location at the intersection of Europe, Africa and the Atlantic trade corridor as a key advantage for export-oriented manufacturers. At the centre of Morocco's logistics strategy is the Port of Tanger Med, one of the largest transshipment and industrial ports in the Mediterranean region. The port is connected to more than 180 ports worldwide and provides rapid access to southern European markets, enabling manufacturers to move components and finished products across regional supply chains within short transit windows. Morocco has developed a significant industrial base in recent years, particularly in automotive and aerospace manufacturing. The country has become Africa's largest automotive exporter and has invested heavily in industrial zones, transport networks and export infrastructure designed to support multinational manufacturers. Trade relations between India and Morocco have traditionally been driven by fertilizers and phosphate imports, with Morocco remaining one of India's key suppliers of phosphate-based raw materials. However, both countries are increasingly exploring opportunities beyond commodities, including manufacturing, logistics, green technologies and industrial partnerships. For the logistics sector, the proposal highlights the growing importance of strategic production hubs that combine manufacturing capabilities with multimodal transport connectivity. As companies continue to redesign supply chains to improve flexibility and market access, locations offering integrated industrial infrastructure and efficient port connectivity are becoming increasingly attractive. Industry analysts note that Morocco's appeal lies not only in its proximity to Europe but also in its ability to serve as a distribution platform for African markets, where demand for manufactured goods is expected to grow steadily over the coming decades. For Indian exporters and manufacturers, the country could provide a potential bridge between established European markets and emerging opportunities across the African continent. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
Growing economic and strategic cooperation between India and the United States could create new freight opportunities across global supply chains, even as logistics operators continue to face disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions, port congestion and rising transportation costs. According to Dimerco’s latest Asia Pacific Freight Report, strengthening trade ties between New Delhi and Washington are expected to support long-term cargo growth by encouraging greater investment, manufacturing diversification and expanded logistics connectivity. The company said India is increasingly being viewed as an alternative sourcing and production base as businesses seek to reduce dependence on China and diversify supply chains. The report comes at a time when both countries are deepening discussions on trade cooperation, market access and supply chain resilience. Industry observers believe stronger bilateral engagement could lead to increased movement of goods across sectors including electronics, pharmaceuticals, engineering products, textiles and consumer goods. Despite the longer-term growth outlook, India’s logistics sector is facing immediate operational challenges. Dimerco noted that airlines continue to reroute or operate cautiously around Middle East airspace, resulting in longer transit times and higher air freight costs on routes to Europe and North America. The situation has tightened capacity and added pressure to regional supply chains. On the maritime side, congestion at Nhava Sheva Port remains a major concern for exporters and importers. The report highlighted prolonged gate delays, trailer shortages, export cargo rollovers and extended delivery timelines, all of which are affecting cargo movement and supply chain reliability. Global shipping markets are also dealing with continued volatility driven by fuel price fluctuations, geopolitical uncertainty and operational disruptions. According to Dimerco, concerns over instability in the Gulf region have prompted some shippers to move cargo earlier than planned in an effort to avoid potential disruptions and rising transportation costs. This frontloading activity has tightened vessel utilisation and contributed to higher ocean freight rates. Carriers are responding by adjusting bunker surcharges more frequently, with some shipping lines moving from quarterly to monthly revisions to reflect changing fuel costs. The report noted that these developments are making freight planning more difficult for shippers managing international supply chains. Across Asia-Pacific, shipping capacity remains relatively stable overall, although congestion in India and parts of Southeast Asia is affecting schedule reliability ahead of the traditional peak shipping season. Delays at ports and transshipment hubs are also creating bottlenecks as cargo volumes shift across regional trade lanes. Air freight markets are facing a separate set of pressures. Jet fuel shortages in some regions have forced airlines to reduce cargo payloads or deploy smaller aircraft, limiting available capacity. Demand from semiconductor, artificial intelligence and high-tech manufacturing sectors continues to support air cargo volumes, particularly on routes connecting Asia with the United States and Europe. For logistics providers, freight forwarders and exporters, the evolving India–US trade relationship presents a significant long-term growth opportunity. However, near-term supply chain performance will remain closely tied to geopolitical developments, transportation capacity and the ability of logistics networks to manage ongoing disruptions across global trade corridors. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
India is among a group of nearly 30 countries working to develop supply chain networks that reduce dependence on China, reflecting a broader global shift toward diversified sourcing and resilient manufacturing ecosystems amid rising geopolitical and trade uncertainties. The initiative, involving several advanced and emerging economies, is focused on strengthening alternative production and sourcing arrangements across sectors considered strategically important, including electronics, critical minerals, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and clean energy technologies. Officials associated with the discussions said participating countries are exploring frameworks that would allow businesses to spread manufacturing and procurement operations across multiple geographies rather than relying heavily on a single market. The move is aimed at reducing vulnerabilities exposed during recent global disruptions, geopolitical tensions and trade restrictions. India’s participation aligns with its ongoing efforts to position itself as a manufacturing and export hub for multinational companies seeking to diversify operations outside China. Over the past few years, New Delhi has introduced production-linked incentive schemes, expanded logistics infrastructure and accelerated trade negotiations to attract global supply chain investments. The shift toward “China-plus-one” sourcing strategies has gained momentum among global manufacturers and logistics operators following supply chain disruptions that affected shipping schedules, industrial output and inventory availability across major economies. Industry analysts say companies are increasingly prioritising supply chain resilience alongside cost efficiency when making investment decisions. For India, the emerging realignment presents opportunities in sectors such as electronics assembly, automotive components, pharmaceuticals, textiles and renewable energy equipment. However, experts note that sustaining long-term gains will depend on improvements in logistics efficiency, port connectivity, regulatory predictability and manufacturing competitiveness. The evolving supply chain framework also reflects broader geopolitical considerations, as several countries seek to reduce exposure to concentrated sourcing risks in strategically sensitive industries. Governments involved in the initiative are expected to collaborate on trade facilitation, investment partnerships and technology cooperation to strengthen alternative industrial networks. Logistics and trade stakeholders say diversified manufacturing patterns could reshape cargo flows across Asia over the coming decade, increasing demand for multimodal transport infrastructure, warehousing capacity and port-led industrial development in emerging production centres such as India and Southeast Asia. While China is expected to remain a dominant force in global manufacturing, analysts believe multinational corporations are likely to continue distributing production across multiple countries to mitigate operational and geopolitical risks. India’s inclusion in the coalition underscores its growing role in global supply chain restructuring and regional trade integration. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
