The Andaman Islands could be India's next big trade trump card

India is looking to strengthen the Andaman and Nicobar Islands' role as a maritime and economic gateway to the Indo-Pacific, with a focus on securing shipping routes, expanding port connectivity and building resilient supply chains amid disruptions to global trade.

The push was outlined at a curtain-raiser event for the Andaman Dialogue 2027, which brought together diplomats, maritime experts, government officials and industry representatives from more than 15 countries to discuss regional economic and security cooperation.

Also Read: On Edge: The Great Nicobar project faces a great engineering question


The dialogue, scheduled for March 12–14, 2027, at Swaraj Dweep in the Andaman Islands, will focus on strengthening maritime infrastructure, trade connectivity and partnerships across the Indian Ocean and Indo-Pacific regions.

Addressing the gathering through a recorded message, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the islands' potential to serve as an economic bridge between South and Southeast Asia, particularly in trade, logistics, shipping, digital infrastructure and finance.

Goyal also pointed to growing disruptions in global supply chains and technological shifts, underscoring the need for trusted partnerships, secure critical infrastructure and stronger regional economic resilience.

Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chairman of the National Maritime Foundation and former Chief of the Naval Staff, highlighted the islands' strategic position near major shipping routes connecting the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean and wider Indo-Pacific.

Also Read: Private firm inks MoU with Andaman and Nicobar administration to develop two trekking trails

He called for greater cooperation in maritime surveillance, port connectivity, shipbuilding, ship repair and seafarer training, stressing the importance of secure sea lanes for international commerce and regional stability.

Tripathi said India–ASEAN trade had reached approximately $128 billion in 2025–26, accounting for around 11% of India's total trade, highlighting the economic significance of stronger maritime links with Southeast Asian countries.

He also outlined plans to expand international cooperation through the Information Fusion Centre–Indian Ocean Region, which currently has liaison officers from approximately 16–17 partner countries. The target is to increase that number to 50 by 2028.

Tripathi proposed extending maritime information-sharing arrangements to commercial shipping in the Andaman Sea, alongside greater cooperation between regional ports and maritime industries.

On infrastructure, he referred to a ₹69,725-crore package for India's shipbuilding and maritime sector and investment commitments of approximately ₹12 lakh crore announced during India Maritime Week.

He also highlighted the interconnected nature of naval and commercial shipbuilding, which depend on common industrial capabilities, skilled workers and supply chains.

The event featured a panel discussion on regional economic cooperation, examining ways to translate shared policy priorities into partnerships involving businesses, investors and institutions.

Participants discussed vulnerabilities affecting maritime trade routes and critical infrastructure, including subsea cables, while emphasising the importance of resilient regional networks and rules-based cooperation.

Diplomatic representatives from Fiji, Djibouti, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Australia, Singapore, Mauritius, Thailand, Vietnam and the Maldives were among those attending the event.

The curtain raiser was jointly convened by the Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS) and the Centre for Domestic Economy Policy Research (C-DEP), with participation from senior government officials and maritime industry representatives.

The upcoming Andaman Dialogue is expected to focus on practical cooperation to strengthen the security and resilience of maritime assets and infrastructure supporting regional trade and economic activity.