CMA CGM has reinforced its long-term commitment to India during an event held in New Delhi in the presence of Shri Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State for the Ministry of Ports, Navigation, and Inland Waterways, and Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of the group. The meeting underscored CMA CGM's continued partnership with the Indian maritime sector and its ambition to support the country's growing role in global trade and logistics.
During the visit of its global leadership to India, CMA CGM has signed the final shipbuilding contract with Cochin Shipyard Limited for six next-generation container ships powered by liquefied natural gas, with a capacity of 1,700 TEU. This agreement consolidates the strategic cooperation between the French shipping group and the Indian shipbuilding industry, reflecting mutual trust in the local shipyards' ability to deliver state-of-the-art vessels with environmentally friendly technology.
CMA CGM is also committed to the development of human capital in India through CMA SHIPS. The group has already recruited 1,000 Indian seafarers, with plans to incorporate an additional 1,500 seafarers before the end of 2026. This hiring strategy reinforces the group's role in the global maritime workforce and provides skilled employment opportunities in the Indian shipping sector.
Building on this strategic milestone, CMA CGM is actively exploring partnerships with key players in India to strengthen the country's container manufacturing capabilities, promote sustainable ship recycling, and support the development of national container navigation. These initiatives respond to a comprehensive vision of contributing to the Indian maritime and logistics ecosystem.
Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM, stated: "I am pleased to be in India to deepen the strategic partnership that has linked CMA CGM and India for almost four decades. Today we reinforce our shipbuilding cooperation with Cochin Shipyard by signing for six LNG-powered container vessels. At the same time, we seek to expand our commitment to container manufacturing and ship recycling. This aligns completely with Prime Minister Modi's Maritime Vision 2047 to position India as an important maritime nation. As corridors such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor develop, connecting India with the Middle East and Europe, CMA CGM is ready to contribute to this new phase of global trade."
CMA CGM, present in India for 37 years, continues to invest to strengthen its long-term maritime and logistics partnership with the country. The group acknowledges that this investment contributes to economic development, growth in exports and imports, and sustainable value creation.
In the context of its participation in the India Artificial Intelligence Summit, CMA CGM will develop its innovation presence in the country to actively harness artificial intelligence, digital solutions, and advanced analytics in the transformation of the global supply chain. This transformation encompasses everything from maritime operations and port efficiency to logistics optimization and customer experience.
As part of this commitment, in partnership with Capgemini, CMA CGM has established a dedicated Research and Development center in India. This facility positions the country as a key global hub for innovation within the group. The R&D center in India plays a critical role in the development of next-generation digital solutions enabled by artificial intelligence that support CMA CGM's global operations.
The establishment of the R&D center reflects CMA CGM's broader vision to be a long-term partner in the growth of India's supply chain and infrastructure. The group combines global expertise in shipping and competitiveness in asset construction and management, logistics excellence, technological innovation, and sustainable practices. This comprehensive approach aims to contribute to the development of the Indian maritime and logistics ecosystem while capturing growth opportunities in emerging markets.