During his visit to the Deendayal Port Authority, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal laid the foundation for two Centres of Excellence focused on green hydrogen and green maritime fuels. He highlighted that Deendayal Port in Gujarat’s Kutch district will become a mega port in the next three years, with its cargo handling capacity expanding to 300 million tonnes. Sonowal also announced plans for a new mega port beyond Kandla creek, a shipbuilding cluster, and key infrastructure projects. Additionally, he chaired a B2B meeting on green hydrogen opportunities, emphasizing collaboration and investment.

The MoPSW announced two major projects at Kandla Port, with a combined investment of Rs 570 billion. These include a Rs 300 billion shipbuilding and repair facility and a Rs 270 billion cargo terminal outside Kandla Creek, boosting the port's capacity by 135 MTPA. The shipbuilding facility will manufacture large vessels, including VLCCs, and repair up to 50 vessels annually. The new cargo terminal will enhance efficiency, focusing on liquid cargo, reducing tanker wait times, and improving turnaround times.

On 30th December 2024, the Hon’ble Minister visited the ALHW office to review its role in developing port infrastructure in the Islands. Upon arrival, the Minister was warmly welcomed, and a sapling was planted on the premises. A detailed presentation on ongoing projects was made, highlighting ALHW's contributions. The Minister instructed timely project completion and focused on key areas: creating landing facilities in Virgin Islands, PPP-driven projects, establishing a ship repair hub, floating jetties at tourism sites, and retrofitting old jetties. The Minister also stressed the importance of supporting infrastructure at Campbell Bay for the ICTP Project.

On December 25, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump posted on Truth Social, claiming that "Chinese soldiers" were illegally operating the Panama Canal, a statement later proven false. The Panama Canal is run by the Panamanian government, not Chinese forces. Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, confirmed that there was no Chinese interference in canal operations. However, U.S. officials have raised concerns about China's growing influence in global ports, including the Panama Canal. Chinese companies, backed by heavy government investment, control significant parts of global shipping, enhancing China's strategic leverage over global trade.

India is developing Inland Waterway Transport over the Brahmaputra River, with a ship repair facility being constructed at Pandu as part of the project. This initiative, in collaboration with Bangladesh, aims to enhance connectivity along Indo-Bangladesh protocol routes and boost inland navigation in the Northeast. The facility, set to be completed by 2025, will allow local vessels to avoid repairs in Kolkata. The project is expected to lower transportation costs, facilitate larger shipments, and boost trade between India and Bangladesh, benefiting the Northeast region's economy.