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Maharashtra Signs ₹56,000 Crore MoUs To Boost Maritime Trade & Industry

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Mumbai: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis expressed confidence that Maharashtra will lead the country in the fields of maritime trade and industry through the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed today. A total of 15 MoUs were signed in the presence of the Chief Minister during India Maritime Week 2025, held at NESCO, Goregaon.

Also present were Fisheries and Ports Minister Nitesh Rane, Additional Chief Secretary (Ports) Sanjay Sethi, CEO of Maharashtra Maritime Board P. Pradeep, and representatives of the companies involved in the agreements.

Chief Minister Fadnavis said that several MoUs have been signed with different companies to develop the maritime ecosystem, involving investments worth approximately ₹56,000 crore. These agreements will help position Maharashtra at the forefront of maritime trade and development. Facilities related to ports, transport, industry, and commerce will be upgraded to global standards.

“Water transport is very important for Mumbai. The Ro-Ro ferry service has received an excellent response from citizens. Now, a water taxi service between Gateway of India and Navi Mumbai Airport will be launched, which will significantly reduce travel time. Additionally, a fleet of electric vessels (EV vessels) will be introduced to ensure clean and eco-friendly water transport.”

The state is developing water sports centers, shipbuilding industries, and blue economy projects. A major port is being established at Vadhavan, which will make Maharashtra a leader in the country’s maritime sector. The Vadhavan Port will be connected by road to key cities across the state, ensuring its benefits reach all regions of Maharashtra, the Chief Minister said.

Maharashtra Set to Become the Center of India’s Maritime Growth

— Minister of Fisheries and Ports Nitesh Rane

Minister Nitesh Rane said that this is a proud moment for Maharashtra. Due to the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, vast opportunities for growth have been created in the maritime sector. Maharashtra is emerging as a frontrunner in shipbuilding policy, passenger water transport, and marine tourism.

He added that Maharashtra will soon become the epicenter of the nation’s maritime development, and the MoUs signed today will give Maharashtra’s maritime industry global strength. A new chapter of investment in port development, shipbuilding, ship repair, and maritime transport has begun, he said.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. — Development of Dighi Port and related infrastructure as a mega port; Investment: ₹42,500 crore.

JSW Infrastructure Ltd. — Expansion of existing Jaigad and Dharamtar ports; Investment: ₹3,709 crore.

Chowgule & Company Pvt. Ltd. — Shipbuilding, ship repair, rig repair, offshore and energy project development; Investment: ₹5,000 crore.

Synergy Shipbuilders & Dock Works Ltd. — Shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship recycling yard; Investment: ₹1,000 crore.

Goa Shipyard Ltd. — Shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship recycling yard; Investment: ₹2,000 crore.

Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay — Establishment of a Centre of Excellence for research and development in ship design and construction.

IIT Bombay — Development of training facilities in marine engineering and infrastructure.

IIT Bombay — Capacity building and skill development programs for Maharashtra Maritime Board employees.

Knowledge Marine & Engineering Works Ltd. — Shipbuilding and repair yard project; Investment: ₹250 crore.

TSA Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. — Development of Container Freight Station (CFS), shipyard, and flotel project at Vadhavan Port; Investment: ₹500 crore.

Candela Technology AB (Sweden) — Establishment of a shipyard for the construction of passenger water transport vessels.

Abu Dhabi Ports Group (UAE) — Agreement to enhance maritime cooperation between Maharashtra and the UAE.

Atal Turnkey Projects (Netherlands) — Agreement for maritime cooperation between Maharashtra and the Netherlands; Investment: ₹1,000 crore.

Echandia Marine AB — Establishment of a marine battery energy storage system assembly and manufacturing facility for tugboats; Investment: ₹10 crore.

Mumbai Port Authority — MoU for mutual cooperation to strengthen passenger water transport within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

Total Expected Investment: ₹55,969 crore

These MoUs will bring large-scale investment into port development, shipbuilding, marine research, and technical training in Maharashtra. Major projects such as Dighi Port and Vadhavan Port will enhance the state’s maritime trade capacity, while collaboration with IIT Bombay will promote innovation and skill development.

This initiative will create thousands of employment opportunities, attract new industries, and accelerate progress toward the Developed India 2047 vision.

Both central and state governments emphasized that these MoUs mark a significant step forward in strengthening India’s maritime future through joint efforts.

Business

Kutch Copper Ltd’s ‘Adani Copper’ becomes London Metal Exchange-registered brand

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Ahmedabad, July 7: Kutch Copper Limited (KCL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises Ltd, has earned London Metal Exchange (LME) certification for ‘Adani Copper,’ according to a statement issued by the company on Tuesday.

“Approval by the world centre for the trading of industrial metals validates KCL’s manufacturing excellence and responsible sourcing practices against strict global benchmarks, enabling Adani Copper cathodes to be delivered with warrants eligible for issuance against LME Copper futures contracts from July 10, 2026,” the statement said.

For the Adani Group, LME’s listing of Adani Copper as a Good Delivery brand for ‘Copper Grade A’ contracts places the brand alongside the world’s leading copper brands, conferring international recognition and market credibility on the Group’s entry into the metals sector and its emergence as a globally competitive producer of refined copper.

“Copper is the backbone of the global energy transition. Achieving LME brand status places Adani among the world’s leading copper producers and strengthens India’s role in building a resilient, responsible supply chain for this vital metal. Kutch Copper’s world-class infrastructure and ESG standards make this recognition both timely and well-deserved. It will enhance the global acceptance of Adani Copper. Apart from reinforcing India’s growing stature in the international metals industry, the registration is a landmark step towards self-reliance in refined copper,” Adani Enterprises’ CEO, Natural Resources, and Kutch Copper Ltd Managing Director Dr Vinay Prakash said.

An LME-brand certification is a rigorous process involving superior quality assurances — covering chemical composition, shape and weight — alongside strict responsible sourcing protocols. The LME listing enables Adani Copper cathodes to be placed on warrant in LME-approved warehouses, strengthening financing flexibility as LME-listed metal is recognised as a highly liquid asset that can be used as collateral. For the LME, the addition of Adani Copper broadens the exchange’s deliverable base with high-quality cathode from a major new production hub, deepening the liquidity and geographic diversity of the global copper market.

The $1.2 billion Kutch Copper facility with production capacity of 0.5 million tonnes — one of the world’s largest single-location custom copper smelting complexes, designed with state-of-the-art technology, advanced process automation, and sustainability-led design principles embedded across operations — strengthens domestic supply, reduces the nation’s dependence on imported copper, and advances India’s ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ ambitions in a metal central to electrification, renewable energy and the energy transition, the Adani Group statement added.

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Sensex, Nifty trade higher in early deals amid positive global cues

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Mumbai, July 7: Indian equity benchmark indices traded higher on Tuesday amid positive global cues and crude oil prices hovering around the $70-a-barrel mark.

Sensex jumped as much as 0.27 per cent or over 200 points to hit an intraday high of 78,504 in early trade, while Nifty was trading around 60 points or 0.23 per cent higher at 24,488.

Sectorally, IT, banking and financial stocks led the gains. Nifty IT rose 1.28 per cent, followed by Nifty PSU Bank which gained 0.45 per cent.

In contrast, Nifty Metal was the worst performer, falling 0.86 per cent, followed by Nifty Media, which declined 0.38 per cent. Nifty Chemicals and Nifty FMCG slipped up to 0.30 per cent.

Among the Nifty stocks, Trent was the biggest loser, plunging 8.81 per cent, followed by Bharat Electronics (BEL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), which declined about 1 per cent each. Meanwhile, InterGlobe Aviation (IndiGo) fell 0.88 per cent, while Coal India slipped 0.84 per cent.

According to market experts, there are distinct signs of an uptrend in the market.

They noted that two factors weighing on Indian markets — the crude price hike and sustained FPI selling — are now behind us and have reversed. Crude prices are back to their pre-war levels, while FPIs have turned buyers. Although FPI buying is not yet a strong trend, the fact that foreign investors have stopped selling and turned buyers marks a significant shift that is likely to be sustained, supported by strong fundamentals.

Technically, the Nifty’s breakout above its 200-day exponential moving average (EMA) for the first time since February has strengthened the market’s bullish structure, according to analysts.

They expect the 24,600 level to act as the immediate resistance, with a sustained move above it potentially paving the way towards 24,800, while the 24,400-24,300 zone is likely to provide near-term support.

International benchmark Brent crude rose about 1 per cent to $72.77 a barrel. Similarly, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude gained 1.12 per cent to $69.32 a barrel.

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WhatsApp keeps ‘username feature’ launch on hold; wins more time to respond to govt notice

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Meta-backed messaging platform WhatsApp has assured the Indian government it will not roll out its proposed username feature in the country until ongoing consultations with authorities are completed, sources familiar with the matter said.

The Meta‑owned messaging platform has also been granted an additional three days to respond to the government notice seeking clarification on the feature. The original deadline for WhatsApp’s reply had lapsed on Friday.

WhatsApp had proposed a username option which would allow users to communicate on WhatsApp without sharing their phone numbers.

The Central government issued a formal notice last week expressing concerns that such a move could heighten risks of online fraud, phishing and impersonation. The government asked WhatsApp to keep the feature on hold until discussions address its security and consumer‑protection concerns, and a Meta delegation met officials from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on Friday to discuss the matter.

Earlier this week, WhatsApp reiterated that several safeguards have been built into the username feature to prevent impersonation, scams and unwanted contact as it prepares for a wider rollout later this year.

The messaging platform addressed a series of frequently asked questions on microblogging platform X after concerns were raised over the feature, including by the government, which has asked the company to defer its rollout in the country pending consultations.

The company said users will not be required to create a username and that existing Instagram and Facebook usernames, along with those of public figures, celebrities, government entities and Meta Verified accounts, have been reserved so they can only be claimed by their legitimate owners.

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