MACN Contributes Maritime Integrity Perspective to India’s Ocean Economy Discussions
MACN recently took part in a high-level workshop at the Indian Institute of Management Visakhapatnam focused on practical pathways towards a safe and sustainable ocean economy in India. The discussion brought together public authorities, industry representatives and research institutions to examine how governance, operations and incentives at ports shape the long-term success of India’s blue economy.
MACN’s contribution centred on a simple but often overlooked point: integrity in port operations is not an abstract value, but a prerequisite for safety, efficiency and investor confidence. Corruption at port and ship interfaces increases operational risk, undermines trust in institutions and ultimately slows down trade. These risks become particularly visible as India expands port capacity and modernises its maritime infrastructure.
Drawing on MACN’s experience in India, the discussion highlighted how integrity challenges can be addressed through practical tools rather than policy statements alone. This includes structured incident reporting, rapid escalation mechanisms and sustained engagement between authorities and the private sector. MACN’s work in India has shown that when vessels and companies have credible channels to raise concerns, problems can often be resolved quickly and without retaliation.
Participation in the Visakhapatnam workshop forms part of MACN’s broader engagement in India, where the network has been working for several years with shipping companies, port authorities and government agencies to reduce corruption risks and protect seafarers. As India’s ocean economy grows, embedding integrity into day-to-day maritime operations will be essential to ensure that growth translates into safer ports, fairer processes and more resilient supply chains.
MACN thanks UN Global Compact Network India, Ocean Centres India, IIM Visakhapatnam and all partners for convening a discussion that moved beyond high-level ambitions and focused on the operational realities of India’s maritime sector.
