PORTS OF THE FUTURE PARTNERSHIP - 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 sustainable and resilient port infrastructure development across the Indo-Pacific region.
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 strategic 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
00:00
Bombay Exhibition Center, Goregaon, Mumbai
Details
| 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, and sustainability. |
| 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: 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 Win-Win 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. |
| 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: 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. |
| 04:30 PM - 05:30 PM | Session 5: Building Sustainable Ports Theme: Advancing sustainable port ecosystems that integrate clean shipping, circularity, and renewable energy. Focus Areas: • Supporting Infrastructure for Clean Shipping: Develop bunkering and refueling facilities for green fuels (LNG, hydrogen, ammonia, methanol), alongside electrification of port operations and shore-to-ship power systems. • Circularity and Waste Management: Promote circular economy practices in ports through efficient recycling, waste-to-energy initiatives, and reuse of ship and cargo materials. • Integration of Renewable Energy: Scale up solar, wind, tidal, and offshore renewable installations at ports, while ensuring smart grid connectivity and storage solutions for uninterrupted operations. • Optimising Logistics: Digitalise port logistics using AI, IoT, and blockchain for real-time tracking, predictive maintenance, and decongestion. Enhance multimodal connectivity for seamless cargo movement. • Reducing Emissions & Improving Energy Efficiency: Implement emission control areas (ECAs), energy audits, carbon-neutral port roadmaps, and international best practices to cut CO₂ and particulate emissions. Expected Outcomes: • Roadmap for sustainable port infrastructure investments. • Best practices for green logistics and supply chain optimisation. • Models for port-led renewable energy hubs supporting maritime decarbonisation. • Actionable strategies to make ports anchors of blue economy and climate resilience. |
| 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 |
| 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM | Closing Session (tbc) |
| 02:00 PM | Visit to JNPA Port, Navi Mumbai |
SPOC Details:
Name: Richa Kumaria
Email: richa.kumaria@anantacentre.in
Contact- +91-9711810061
