Ship-leasing ecosystem at GIFT City reaches 43 vessels
Thirty-eight registered lessors now lease 43 vessels through the financial centre, while two large public schemes seek to support the wider maritime industry.
Shipping Minister Sarbananda Sonowal says 38 ship lessors registered at GIFT City collectively lease 43 vessels with capacity above 2.99 million deadweight tonnes. Twenty-four of those vessels fly the Indian flag.
At a summit on ship leasing and finance, he also said 41 banks operate in the international financial centre and have extended about USD 60.1 million to ship-leasing entities. The presentation cited a Rs 25,000 crore Maritime Development Fund and the Rs 24,736 crore Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Scheme 2.0.
Why it matters
Ownership, leasing and financing structures determine how much maritime value remains in India as the country's trade and fleet requirements grow.
SCULTRA point of view
GIFT City can reduce transaction friction, but long-term competitiveness will depend on financing costs, legal certainty, insurance capacity, residual-value markets and a dependable project pipeline.
Limitations
The release presents government figures and programme commitments. It does not report realised investment from the cited funds, repayment performance or an international cost comparison.
Source: Press Information Bureau / Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, 10 September 2026, 6:48 PM IST.