PORTS OF THE FUTURE PARTNERSHIP : A QUAD INITIATIVE

The Quad Ports of the Future Partnership is a collaborative initiative launched by the Quad—comprising Australia, India, Japan, and the United States—aimed at promoting modern and resilient port infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific.

This initiative seeks to harness the Quad’ s collective expertise to coordinate, exchange information, share best practices, and mobilize both government and private sector investments in quality port infrastructure. In essence, the partnership is a move to bolster maritime connectivity, logistics resilience, and quality infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific, leveraging the Quad' s combined resources and institutional expertise.

29th October 2025 To 30th October 2025

29th Oct | 09:00 AM ~ 06:30 PM
30th Oct | 10:00 AM ~ 02:00 PM

Bombay Exhibition Center, Goregaon, Mumbai

Details

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Day and Time	Sessions
Day 0, 28 October 2025 (Tuesday)
	Participant arrivals and check-in
Day 1, 29 October 2025 (Wednesday)
08:00 AM	Departure from Hotel to Conference Venue Bombay Exhibition Center, Goregaon, Mumbai (NESCO Centre)
09:00 AM - 09:05 AM	Opening remarks
09:05 AM - 10:05 AM	Inaugural Plenary session: Ports as key development anchors in the Indo-Pacific Theme: Shaping a shared vision for resilient, future-ready ports as enablers of prosperity, connectivity, and security in the Indo-Pacific. Focus Areas: ● Ports as Economic Engines: Position ports as hubs for trade facilitation, industrial growth, and regional integration. ● Strengthening Supply Chains: Enhance resilience and redundancy in logistics networks to reduce vulnerabilities. ● Connectivity & Integration: Develop ports as seamless nodes linking sea, land, and digital corridors. ● Future-Ready Infrastructure: Embrace sustainability, smart technologies, secure subsea cables, and climate-resilient design to prepare for evolving maritime challenges. ● Supporting Commercial & Maritime Interests: Align port development with the broader objectives of blue economy growth, maritime security, and cooperative prosperity. Expected Outcomes: ● Articulation of a shared Quad vision for resilient and future-ready ports. ● High-level commitment to collaboration on infrastructure, technology, and sustainability. ● Framing of ports as anchors of Indo-Pacific economic growth and regional stability. ● Strategic direction-setting for subsequent sessions on investment, industry, digital resilience, smart technologies.
10:15 AM - 11:30 AM	Session 2: Infrastructure and Investment – Quad’s pathways in the Indo-Pacific Theme: Catalysing resilient, high-quality, and inclusive infrastructure investment in Indo-Pacific ports to drive trade and connectivity. Focus Areas: ● Scaling Infrastructure Investment: Mobilise greater capital flows for the development and upgrading of ports across the region. ● Evolving Regulatory Frameworks: Streamline and harmonise port-related regulations to facilitate smoother trade and logistics. ● Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): Encourage innovative PPP models for sustainable construction, port modernisation, and standards alignment. ● Joint Financing Mechanisms: Design blended finance, risk-sharing, and co-financing initiatives among Quad members to address funding gaps. ● Deepening Technical Partnerships: Share expertise on engineering, smart logistics, climate-resilient design, and regulatory best practices. ● Overcoming Operational Barriers: Tackle challenges related to project execution, governance, and interoperability of port systems. Expected Outcomes: ● Roadmap for mobilising infrastructure investment through Quad-led initiatives. ● Identification of viable PPP and joint financing models for regional port development. ● Framework for regulatory convergence to facilitate trade and attract investment. ● Practical strategies for overcoming implementation bottlenecks in port infrastructure.
11:30 AM - 11:45 AM	Tea/Coffee Break
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM	Session 3: Digital Infrastructure and Next-Gen Tech Theme: Reimagining ports as resilient digital hubs: Anchoring Indo-Pacific logistics and maritime trade through secure, smart, and connected technologies that safeguard the foundations of regional connectivity and stable operations. Focus Areas: ● Strengthening Maritime Cybersecurity: Protect critical digital networks, satellite systems, and data flows essential for navigation, logistics, and port operations. ● Smart Logistics & Resilience Anchors: Position ports as central nodes in resilient supply chains through advanced digitalisation, automation, and predictive capabilities. ● Technology Pilots for Commercial Port Applications: Testbed initiatives for AI-driven vessel traffic management, automated cargo handling, IoT-enabled sensors, and drone-based monitoring. ● Best Practices & Collaborative Frameworks: Share experiences from advanced port systems, maritime surveillance networks, and cyber incident management. Establish joint approaches on funding, R&D cooperation, and capacity building to bolster digital resilience. ● Future-Proofing Connectivity: Explore innovations in secure undersea cables, quantum-resistant encryption, and AI-based threat detection for maritime infrastructure. ● Quad R&D Exchange for Next-Gen Logistics: Foster collaboration with like-minded Indo-Pacific partners on R&D for smart port technologies, advanced analytics, and optimisation tools. ● Integration of Cutting-Edge Technologies: Deploy AI, machine learning, blockchain, 5G, and robotics to enhance operational efficiency, reduce turnaround times, and strengthen port security. ● Ease of Access & Single Window Clearance: Build digital platforms for integrated documentation, trade facilitation, and transparent customs processes to streamline port-user experiences. Expected Outcomes: ● Frameworks for technology collaboration and pilot projects among Quad and Indo-Pacific partners. ● Roadmap for digital and secure port ecosystems integrating smart operations with resilience standards. ● Models for scalable digital solutions supporting trade facilitation and efficiency. ● Recommendations for harmonising Single Window Clearance systems across the region. ● Shared baseline of digital threats and risk assessment frameworks. ● Identification of priority areas for Quad cooperation in cybersecurity and digital infrastructure. ● Models for joint funding and capacity-building initiatives. ● Roadmap for a resilient, secure, and interoperable digital maritime ecosystem across the Indo-Pacific.
12:45 PM - 01:45 PM	Lunch
01:45 PM - 02:45 PM	Closed-door G2G roundtable Quad partners discuss ways, and means, to synergize their efforts and build quality port infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific.
02:45 PM - 03:00 PM	Tea/Coffee Break
03:00 PM - 04:15 PM	Session 4: Shipping and Shipbuilding Theme: Revitalising shipbuilding and repair ecosystems to meet the evolving demands of global shipping and regional connectivity. Focus Areas: ● Strategic Shifts in Global Shipping: Assess how decarbonisation, automation, and supply chain reconfiguration are reshaping the industry. ● Forging Partnerships: Explore avenues for collaboration among Quad and Indo-Pacific partners to strengthen shipbuilding and repair capacity. ● Workforce Development: Invest in skilling and reskilling programmes to build a future-ready maritime workforce. ● Regional Shipbuilding Clusters: Promote specialised clusters for design, construction, maintenance, and green retrofitting. ● Innovation & Technology Integration: Leverage digital design, advanced materials, and clean propulsion systems to enhance competitiveness. Expected Outcomes: ● Roadmap for sustainable shipbuilding partnerships in the Indo-Pacific. ● Models for regional shipbuilding and repair clusters that support economic growth and resilience. ● Joint initiatives for workforce development and skills alignment. ● Shared best practices for integrating clean and digital technologies in shipbuilding.
04:30 PM - 05:30 PM	Session 5: Modernising Port Logistics and Operations Theme: Advancing next-generation port ecosystems through expanded fuel facilities, integrated power reliability frameworks, and optimised logistics systems. Focus Areas: ● Logistics Optimisation: Digitalise port operations using AI, IoT, and blockchain for real-time tracking, predictive maintenance, and congestion reduction. Enhance multimodal connectivity to streamline cargo movement across road, rail, and inland waterways. ● Performance and Efficiency Frameworks: Deploy audit mechanisms, operational benchmarks, and international best practices to improve fuel use, turnaround time, and overall energy and resource efficiency. ● Materials and Asset Management: Introduce structured systems for handling by-products and surplus cargo or vessel-related materials, including reprocessing and recovery mechanisms to optimise lifecycle value and reduce operational overheads. ● Integrated Power Systems: Expand on-site generation and diversified power sources, supported by robust grid connectivity and storage capacity to ensure uninterrupted operations under varying demand conditions. ● Fuel and Power Infrastructure: Develop bunkering and refuelling capacity for a wider range of fuels (LNG, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol), alongside electrification of port operations and shore-to-ship power systems to improve turnaround efficiency. Expected Outcomes: ● Investment-oriented roadmap for upgraded port infrastructure. ● Action frameworks for logistics and supply-chain optimisation. ● Scalable models for port-based power and fuel management hubs. ● Strategies to position ports as key anchors of industrial and commercial growth.
06:00 PM	Departure from Conference Venue to Hotel
06:30 PM	Dinner and Reception (Hosted by Ministry of External Affairs)
Day 2, 30 October 2025 (Thursday)
09:00 AM	Departure from Hotel to Conference Venue
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM	Leaders’ Conclave
11:05 AM - 12:25 PM	Visit to the Exhibition (Optional)
12:30 PM - 01:30 PM	Closing Session (tbc)
02:00 PM	Visit to JNPA Port, Navi Mumbai (Optional)