On April 20, 2026, during the state visit of Republic of Korea President Lee Jae Myung to India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Korean President adopted a Comprehensive Framework for Partnership in Shipbuilding, Shipping and Maritime Logistics, anchoring one of the most consequential industrial outcomes of the visit. The framework looks forward to its early implementation and aligns with India Maritime Amrit Kaal vision, which seeks to make India a top-five shipbuilding nation by 2047 from its present share of less than one per cent of global shipbuilding capacity. Both sides took positive note of major industry-to-industry collaborations announced on the sidelines of the summit. A non-binding Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Korean shipbuilder HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering Co Ltd, the identified cluster developer and facilitator, and India Maritime Development Fund for joint development, financing, implementation and operation of a large greenfield shipyard in southern India. A separate Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Bharat Earth Movers Limited of India, HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering and HD Hyundai Samho of Korea to jointly design, manufacture and support next-generation conventional and autonomous maritime and port cranes in India. Korean shipbuilders, which together build roughly a third of the worlds tonnage and dominate high-value segments such as LNG carriers and very large crude carriers, will partner Indian yards on technology transfer, design support and crew training. The framework is significant because it links Korean industrial expertise with India domestic ship demand from the Sagarmala programme, the recently constituted Maritime Development Fund and a renewed shipbuilding financial assistance scheme.
India and Republic of Korea Adopt Comprehensive Framework for Partnership in Shipbuilding, Shipping and Maritime Logistics on April 20, 2026; HD KSOE-Maritime Development Fund MOU Targets Greenfield Shipyard in Southern India
On April 20, 2026, India and Republic of Korea adopted a Comprehensive Framework for Partnership in Shipbuilding, Shipping and Maritime Logistics during President Lee Jae Myung visit. HD KSOE and India Maritime Development Fund signed an MoU for a greenfield shipyard in southern India, while BEML, HD KSOE and HD Hyundai Samho signed a separate MoU to manufacture next-generation maritime and port cranes in India.
Key facts
- On April 20, 2026, India and Republic of Korea adopted a Comprehensive Framework for Partnership in Shipbuilding, Shipping and Maritime Logistics.
- The framework was adopted during the state visit of ROK President Lee Jae Myung to India and aligns with India Maritime Amrit Kaal vision.
- HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering signed a non-binding MoU with India Maritime Development Fund for a large greenfield shipyard in southern India.
- Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML) signed an MoU with HD KSOE and HD Hyundai Samho to jointly design and manufacture next-generation conventional and autonomous maritime and port cranes in India.
- Korean shipbuilders dominate roughly one-third of global ship tonnage and lead high-value segments such as LNG carriers and very large crude carriers.
- India presently holds less than one per cent share of global shipbuilding capacity and aspires to be among the top-five shipbuilding nations by 2047.
- The framework links Korean expertise to Indian demand created by Sagarmala programme, the Maritime Development Fund and a renewed shipbuilding financial assistance scheme.
6-axis classification
Appears in these topics
Practice MCQ from this story
SolveTap an option below. Correct or incorrect feedback appears instantly.
Which Korean company signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding with India Maritime Development Fund on April 20, 2026, for joint development of a large greenfield shipyard in southern India?
HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering Co Ltd (HD KSOE) was identified as the cluster developer and facilitator and signed a non-binding MoU with India Maritime Development Fund on April 20, 2026, for joint development, financing, implementation and operation of a large greenfield shipyard in southern India.
Source: Prime Minister of India
Frequently asked questions
Which Korean shipbuilder signed an MoU with India Maritime Development Fund on April 20, 2026?
HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering Co Ltd (HD KSOE) signed a non-binding MoU for joint development of a large greenfield shipyard in southern India.
Which Indian public sector undertaking partnered HD KSOE for next-generation maritime cranes?
Bharat Earth Movers Limited (BEML), along with HD Hyundai Samho, signed an MoU to design and manufacture conventional and autonomous maritime and port cranes in India.
What is India target under the Maritime Amrit Kaal vision?
To position India among the top-five shipbuilding nations by 2047, from its current share of less than one per cent of global shipbuilding capacity.
Which existing Indian government programme is the new framework expected to complement?
The Sagarmala programme, the Maritime Development Fund and the renewed shipbuilding financial assistance scheme.
Which high-value vessel segments are Korean shipbuilders dominant in?
LNG carriers and very large crude carriers, where Korean yards lead globally and bring technology useful to India clean-fuel transition.
Was this useful?
Share corrections or missing exam angles with the editorial team.
Send feedback