PM Modi meets Maersk Chairman, pushes major port, logistics investment pitch in Sweden

On the sidelines of his official tour to elevate India-Europe relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting with Robert Maersk Uggla, Chairman of Maersk, the world’s second-largest container shipping and maritime logistics conglomerate.

The meeting, held in Gothenburg, Sweden’s industrial and maritime hub, focused on attracting major foreign investment to modernise India’s ports, improve logistics corridors, and promote green shipping solutions.

Following the closed-door talks, Prime Minister Modi took to X (formerly Twitter) to highlight the vast potential of the partnership. “In Gothenburg, met Mr Robert Maersk Uggla, Chairman of Maersk. We discussed the large scope of opportunities in India and deepening investments, especially in sectors like port infrastructure, logistics and more,” the PM wrote.

Redefining maritime logistics and green shipping

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the discussion moved far beyond standard cargo agreements, digging deeply into the structural overhaul of India’s coastline under initiatives like the Sagarmala Project and the development of deep-sea transshipment hubs.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed that the Prime Minister explicitly lauded Maersk’s century-long operational presence in India while aggressively pitching new, high-yield business avenues.

The dialogue focused on three main strategic pillars:

• Upgrading Indian port terminal automation and expanding throughput capacity to accommodate the next generation of ultra-large container vessels.

• Collaborative efforts to introduce eco-friendly marine fuels, such as green methanol, aligning with India’s ambitious National Green Hydrogen Mission and Maersk’s goal of achieving net-zero emissions.

• Creating dedicated training pipelines for Indian seafarers and logistics professionals to serve global maritime networks.

Part of a larger European push

The exclusive meeting with Maersk coincided with an upgrade in bilateral relations, as India and Sweden officially signed a pact elevating their ties to a strategic partnership.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi addressed the elite European Round Table for Industry (ERT), a coalition pulling together top executives from European titans like Volvo Group, Ericsson, Nokia, and Maersk. Flanked by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Modi declared that India’s “reform express” is moving at full speed, positioning the country as a highly stable, democratic anchor for global supply chains amidst intense geopolitical volatility in West Asia and Eastern Europe.

With the India-EU Free Trade Agreement officially
fast-tracked, securing the commitment of a shipping giant like Maersk is seen as a important move.