The Minister was received at CBS’s Frederiksberg campus by senior leadership, faculty, ambassadors, board members, alumni, and students of The Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics (The Blue MBA) – one of the world’s leading educational programmes for maritime executives.
The visit comes at a time of intensified collaboration between India and Denmark, underpinned by the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership and the Letter of Intent on Green Shipping signed between the two nations. The occasion reinforced the two countries’ shared priorities around green shipping, talent development, and global maritime competitiveness.
Copenhagen Business School Welcomes India’s Shipping Minister in Landmark Visit
In a milestone moment for international academic and maritime collaboration, Copenhagen Business School had the honour of hosting the Hon’ble Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways of India, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, in what marks a landmark ministerial visit to the century-old CBS. The visit celebrated the growing synergy between India and Denmark in building a sustainable and innovation-driven maritime future.
Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics“Collaborations with institutions like CBS can play a vital role in upskilling Indian talent and shaping the next generation of maritime leaders.”
Minister Sonowal
“It is an immense privilege to welcome the Hon’ble Minister to CBS. His presence here reflects not only India’s maritime ambition but also the transformative potential of academic-industry partnerships,” said Dr. Anna Thomasson, Dean of Education, CBS. “Our Blue MBA ecosystem is committed to supporting India’s vision through strategic programmes in leadership, sustainability, digital transformation, and global maritime governance.”
In his remarks, Minister Sonowal highlighted the importance of human capital development and cross-border cooperation to support India’s bold vision for the maritime sector:
“India’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 provide a framework to position India as a global maritime powerhouse. Collaborations with institutions like CBS can play a vital role in upskilling Indian talent and shaping the next generation of maritime leaders. I welcome this partnership and look forward to deepening it further.”
As part of the visit, discussions were held on identifying strategic areas for capacity building aligned with India’s maritime roadmap, including:
- Green fuels and sustainability
- Commercial leadership
- Digital innovation, Maritime law and regulatory compliance
“This engagement marks a pivotal chapter in CBS’s relationship with India,” said Irene Rosberg, Programme Director of the Blue MBA. “We see great opportunity to expand our Alumni Association’s impact in India and to establish new pathways for executive education, joint programmes, and strategic collaboration.”
CBS also announced its intention to participate in India Maritime Week, scheduled for 27–31 October 2025 in Mumbai, as part of India’s national celebration of "Maritime Virasat and Maritime Vikaas". The event is expected to serve as a springboard for announcing new joint initiatives in training, research, and leadership development.
This landmark visit not only reaffirmed the strategic alignment between Denmark and India on green shipping, sustainability, and ESG, but also laid the foundation for a long-term educational and industrial partnership in maritime excellence.
Discover the Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics (The Blue MBA) at Copenhagen Business School.
