Describe the importance of sea routes in handling India’s foreign trade.

India is surrounded by sea from three sides and is bestowed with a long coastline of 7516.6 ms. India has 12 major and 185 minor or intermediate ports. With its prime position in the head of the Indian Ocean, these ports provide India with vital connections to international shipping routes.

Water provides a cheap and efficient means of transporting a large number of goods. Hence, oceanic routes are the most preferred mode of carrying out international trade. With such a long coastline and ports equipped with modern infrastructure, approximately 95% of India’s foreign trade by volume and 70% by value moves through these ports and sea routes.

Hence, sea routes are of utmost importance in handling India’s foreign trade, they must be held as a national asset and more ports must be developed to facilitate India’s rise to a developed nation.