**Executive Summary**
The 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue, held in New Delhi on May 7–8, 2026, highlights India’s role as the Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for 2025–27. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal announced a 340% increase in women’s participation in the maritime sector since 2020, emphasizing "Nari Shakti" as a pillar of regional growth. The forum serves as a platform for 23 member states and 12 dialogue partners to collaborate on maritime security, the blue economy, and disaster risk management.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Women’s Empowerment and Inclusion**
* Women’s participation in India’s maritime sector has grown by 340% since 2020.
* The ‘Sagar Mein Samman’ initiative is actively advancing dignity, inclusion, and leadership opportunities for women.
* Women’s economic empowerment is identified as a key cross-cutting priority area under India’s IORA chairship.
**Regional Strategic Frameworks**
* India's maritime strategy is guided by the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and MAHASAGAR frameworks.
* The government remains committed to a "safe, secure, and stable Indian Ocean Region" through transparency and respect for international law.
* India continues to act as a “net security provider,” focusing on maritime surveillance, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response.
**The 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD)**
* The event theme is “Indian Ocean Region in a Transforming World,” focusing on innovation, openness, resilience, and adaptability.
* The IOD is a Track 1.5 platform involving ministers, policymakers, academics, and industry leaders.
* Dedicated sessions address critical issues including the blue economy, climate change, and maritime supply chain resilience.
**Impact Analysis**
**Women in the Maritime Sector**
**Impact**
They are experiencing significantly higher representation and improved leadership opportunities within a more inclusive and future-ready workforce.
**Action Required**
Engage with empowerment initiatives like ‘Sagar Mein Samman’ to leverage emerging leadership roles in the sector.
**IORA Member States and Dialogue Partners**
**Impact**
Member states are brought into a collective framework to address maritime challenges that no single country can manage alone.
**Action Required**
Collaborate on regional security, trade, and disaster risk management through the IORA platform.
**Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW)**
**Impact**
The Ministry is leading the transition toward a maritime strategy that balances economic growth with social empowerment and the "human element."
**Action Required**
Continue implementing frameworks like SAGAR and MAHASAGAR to ensure equitable growth and regional stability.
Key Entities Referenced
Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD): A flagship Track 1.5 platform of the IORA convened to deliberate on maritime security, the blue economy, and women’s empowerment.
Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA): An intergovernmental organization comprising 23 member states for which India serves as the Chair for the 2025–27 period.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW): The primary government body overseeing India's maritime sector and leading initiatives to increase female workforce participation.
Sagar Mein Samman: A government initiative aimed at advancing dignity, inclusion, and leadership opportunities for women in the maritime sector.
SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region): India’s strategic maritime vision and framework focused on strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring equitable growth.
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Women’s Participation in India’s Maritime Sector
Surges 340% Since 2020: Sarbananda Sonowal
“India remains committed to work with all partners to
advance a safe, secure and stable Indian Ocean Region”:
Sarbananda Sonowal
Posted On: 07 MAY 2026 7:52PM by PIB Delhi
Women’s participation in India’s maritime sector has increased by 340% since 2020, Union Minister of
Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal said here today, underscoring the
government’s push to build a more inclusive, future-ready maritime workforce.
Delivering the keynote address at the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue in New Delhi, Sonowal highlighted
“Nari Shakti” as a central pillar of India’s maritime growth story. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal
was joined by His Excellency, Dhananjay Ramful, Foreign Minister of Mauritius, and His Excellency,
Waleed Mohammed Al-Qadimi, Minister of State of Yemen.
“Through initiatives like ‘Sagar Mein Samman’, we are advancing dignity, inclusion and leadership
opportunities for women in the maritime sector, which has seen a remarkable rise of about 340% since
2020,” Sarbananda Sonowal said. “Under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi
ji, this transformation in the maritime sector is helping shape a more inclusive, resilient and future-ready
workforce for the Indian Ocean Region.”
The Union Minister positioned the surge in women’s participation within India’s broader maritime vision,
combining economic growth with social empowerment. He noted that the “human element” remains
central to India’s maritime strategy, alongside efforts to enhance security, connectivity and sustainability.
“The Indian Ocean is not just a geographic space, but a global lifeline,” Sonowal said. “Its importance to
global energy flows, trade and supply chains calls for stronger cooperation, resilience and inclusivity.”
Sonowal emphasized that India’s maritime initiatives are aligned with the vision of Prime Minister
Narendra Modi, including frameworks such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and
MAHASAGAR, aimed at strengthening regional cooperation and ensuring equitable growth.
The 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue, hosted by India as Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
for 2025–27, is themed “Indian Ocean Region in a Transforming World.” The forum brings together
ministers, policymakers, academics and industry leaders to deliberate on maritime security, blue economy,
disaster risk management and women’s empowerment.
Under India’s Chair of IORA, the forum focuses on “Innovation, Openness, Resilience and Adaptability,”
with women’s economic empowerment identified as a key cross-cutting priority area.
Sonowal also highlighted India’s role as a “net security provider” in the region, pointing to initiatives in
humanitarian assistance, maritime surveillance and disaster response. Sonowal stressed that no single
country can address maritime challenges alone and called for collective action rooted in transparency andrespect for international law.
“India remains committed to working with all partners to advance a safe, secure and stable Indian Ocean
Region,” Sonowal said.
The Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD), IORA’s flagship Track 1.5 platform launched in 2014 in Kochi,
convenes ministers, policymakers, academics and industry leaders to deliberate on key regional issues.
IORA comprises 23 member states and 12 dialogue partners, focusing on economic cooperation and
sustainable development in the Indian Ocean Region, with women’s economic empowerment identified as
a key cross-cutting priority alongside the blue economy. The 10th edition of the Dialogue, being held on
May 7–8, 2026 in New Delhi, features dedicated sessions on maritime security, blue economy, disaster
risk management, climate change and women’s empowerment.
***
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