Harbours of Opportunity: Port of Hamburg's Evolving Engagement
Due to their strategic location and growing capacity, Indian ports play a vital role in the global maritime sector. As India continues to emerge as a key player in international trade, its importance has significantly increased for major global ports—including the Port of Hamburg. In this context, Ms. Inga Gurries, Head of Market Development Asia & Overseas at Port of Hamburg Marketing, visited India in May 2025 to strengthen ties and gain deeper insights into port operations, particularly in the state of Tamil Nadu.
During her visit, Ms. Gurries met with key personnel at both Chennai Port and Kamarajar Port. At Chennai Port, she was warmly welcomed by Mr. Sunil Paliwal, Chairperson of the Chennai Port Authority, and his team. Accompanied by Dr. Kathrin Misera-Lang, Interim Consul General at the Consulate of Germany in Chennai, Ms. Gurries was given a comprehensive tour of the port. A short but insightful visit to the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce in Chennai provided insight on support provided to German companies in the region. This visit provided valuable insights into the port’s ongoing sustainability initiatives and its strategic role in the maritime sector.
The delegation also visited Kamarajar Port, where Ms. Gurries held detailed discussions with Mr. G.M. Balan, General Manager – Marine Services, and Mr. K. Thirumurugan, General Manager – Operations. These conversations focused on understanding the port’s operational capabilities, development plans, and its role in enhancing regional connectivity.
As India’s role in global trade continues to expand, strengthening Indo-Hamburg port relations is crucial for advancing trade, shipping, and logistics. This partnership has already shown strong results—trade between India and the Port of Hamburg increased by 39.6% in the first quarter of 2025, reaching over 600,000 TEUs. India now ranks 7th among Hamburg’s global trading partners.
Further highlighting this growing collaboration, Ms. Gurries participated in the India Ports Conference held in Mumbai on May 8–9, 2025, where she delivered an inspiring presentation on innovations in Green & Smart Ports. She shared how the Port of Hamburg is overcoming spatial limitations by embracing wind energy and digital transformation to lead in sustainable port development.
Looking ahead, we are excited to continue this dialogue and collaboration at INMEX SMM India in September 2025, one of the region’s premier maritime trade fairs.
