Gandhinagar : APM Terminals Pipavav (Gujrat Pipavav Port Limited) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gujarat Maritime Board for the proposed expansion of Pipavav Port, with an investment scope of ₹17,000 crore (approximately USD 2 billion). The signing took place at Gandhinagar in the esteemed presence of the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat Shri Bhupendra Bhai Patel and Chair of the Board of A. P. Moller – Maersk Mr Robert Maersk Uggla. The Chief Minister was accompanied by, Chief Secretary, Government of Gujarat, Shri MK Das, Chairman of Gujarat Maritime Board Shri SS Rathore, and Ms. Remya Mohan, In-charge CEO. From Maersk and APM Terminals, it included Mr Jon Goldner, Chief Executive, APM Terminals Asia & Middle East, Rene Pedersen, Group Chief Representative Officer, Girish Aggarwal, Managing Director of Gujarat Pipavav Port and Vivek Sharma, Head of Public Policy and Regulatory Affairs for Maersk in India Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Region. 

This MoU is a part of the announcement made in February 2025 by A.P. Moller – Maersk where it expressed its intent to invest over 5 billion USD in Indian ports and maritime infrastructure. It outlines Pipavav’s proposed investment plan, which is subject to a long-term concession agreement with the Gujarat Maritime Board. As a part of the 5 billion USD plan, on 21st August 2025, APM Terminals also signed an MoU to explore suitable port investment opportunity of 1 billion USD to support Andhra Pradesh’s port modernisation efforts.

The proposed expansion at APM Terminals Pipavav will significantly enhance the port’s capacity and capabilities, reaffirming its position as one of India’s most efficient, safe, and sustainable ports. Planned developments include state-of-the-art container and liquid cargo handling infrastructure and strengthening multimodal connectivity with the Dedicated Freight Corridor and the national hinterland.

Mr Jon Goldner, Chief Executive, APM Terminals Asia & Middle East said:

“This investment plan is not just about expanding Pipavav Port, it’s about unlocking new opportunities for Gujarat, for India, and for global trade. Supporting the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Modiji’s vision, we are building the capacity, resilience, and sustainability needed to serve India’s economy for decades to come. Our goal is to make Pipavav a model of world-class efficiency and green growth, while creating lasting prosperity for the local community and strengthening India’s leadership in maritime trade.”

On this occasion, Shri Bhupendra Patel, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Gujarat said: “We deeply value our long-standing partnership with APM Terminals, which has been an important partner of Gujarat’s maritime growth story. Over the past 30 years, Pipavav Port has been a model of public–private partnership and this proposed investment by APMT Pipavav reflects strong confidence in Gujarat’s infrastructure, policy framework and governance. This expansion will strengthen Gujarat’s position as India’s maritime gateway, create new employment opportunities, and contribute to our vision of a Viksit Gujarat. We look forward to continued collaboration with APM Terminals as we build a stronger maritime future for India.”

The expansion is expected to make a substantial contribution to the economy of Gujarat and India, with the potential to generate around 25,000 new direct and indirect employment opportunities, with a strong emphasis on local employment. By enabling growth in key industries such as automobiles, textiles, agri-commodities, and energy, the project will act as a catalyst for industrial development across Saurashtra and beyond.

Key infrastructure improvements:

Capacity enhancements include:

  • Enhanced capacity for containers, liquid and RoRo cargo
  • Expanded storage and rail siding capacity
  • Specialised equipment and deeper waterfront
  • Best-in-class multimodal ocean/rail/road transit solutions to India’s Northwest
  • Strategic partnerships to deliver world-class liquid, RoRo and bulk handling

Aligned with India’s Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and Gujarat’s Viksit Gujarat@2047 Roadmap, the proposed expansion reinforces Pipavav’s role as a strategic trade hub. The port already connects with the world’s top 10 global container ports and eight of the top 10 global shipping lines and has consistently been ranked India’s most efficient port by the World Bank’s Container Port Performance Index.