As global supply chain continue to diversify and trade corridors evolve, South Asia is emerging as a critical hub for manufacturing, sourcing and logistics. With India strengthening its position in global trade, investments in ports, multimodal infrastructure and integrated supply chain solutions are reshaping the region’s competitiveness. In this interaction with Thomas Theeuwes, Managing Director-South Asia, Maersk, we understand his perspective on the opportunities driving growth across South Asia, the importance of multimodal connectivity, the company’s investment priorities, and how sustainability, resilience and end-to-end logistics solutions will define the next phase of trade expansion in the region.
As Managing Director for India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, what are your key priorities, and where do you see the biggest growth opportunities over the next few years?
Since taking on this role in January 2026, my priority has been to continue positioning South Asia, and India in particular, as a region of strategic importance for global trade. We do not see this as a market we serve, but one we invest in for the long term. In that sense, I have been mainly focusing on the following: supporting our customers’ growth in this market, investing for the long haul and strengthening our integrated logistics solutions.
Over the past few years, we have seen disruptions in global trade for several reasons. Global manufacturers are diversifying their sourcing footprints beyond a single-country model. India is emerging as a credible partner in the multi-sourcing strategy across sectors such as electronics, auto components, textiles, etc. That shift is structural and is already translating into cargo volumes.
At the same time, the maritime sector in India is undergoing its own transformation. Driven by government initiatives, significant investments are getting earmarked towards port capacity, shipbuilding, and strengthening the Indianflagged fleet. Given that the vast majority of India’s trade by volume moves by sea, this is exactly the right moment for us to deepen our presence here.
Beyond the ports, our priority is to build the logistics layer around them as well. Hinterland connectivity is improving rapidly through the Dedicated Freight Corridors and expanded highway networks. Our goal is to contribute to this growth by strengthening our warehousing and distribution network, so our customers receive reliable, integrated logistics coverage. We’re also strengthening our air freight capabilities, because in a world where supply chains face frequent disruptions, customers need the flexibility to switch modes quickly when speed matters more than cost.
As global companies diversify sourcing and manufacturing, how do you see the role of India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka evolving in global trade and supply chains?
The diversification of sourcing began a few years ago, and we’re now starting to see it play out. Global brands across multiple sectors are actively expanding their manufacturing and sourcing bases, especially in India and Bangladesh.
As a first step, our role is to ensure these growth markets are well connected to global trade flows through reliable and predictable ocean capacity. We have started realising that predictability is being perceived as the currency of trust, and that is one aspect we are heavily invested in. As companies build out new manufacturing footprints, we have to step in to support their need for integrated logistics that covers inland transportation, warehousing, customs, and visibility across the entire chain.
While at this, we cannot ignore resilience. We’ve all seen how quickly global trade disruptions can ripple through supply chains. Therefore, our focus is on crafting alternate routings and integrated solutions that help insulate them from these shocks, so growth here isn’t held back by external volatility.
How important will multimodal infrastructure and logistics corridors be in shaping South Asia’s competitiveness over the next decade?
Multimodal connectivity is central to resilience. Our recently launched FI2 service is a good example of how we’re thinking about this. On the outside, it looks like a weekly ocean service connecting major ports in China to Nhava Sheva and Pipavav in India. But what makes it distinctive is the call at Pipavav, which gives us direct access to India’s Dedicated Freight Corridor rail network, enabling cargo arriving at Pipavav to be transported inland to the National Capital Region — Delhi, Gurugram, Noida — and the surrounding industrial belts.
This kind of integration matters for several reasons. First, it’s the reliability. When ocean and rail are connected seamlessly, customers have a dependable alternative to congested roads and port corridors, which is especially valuable during disruptions. Second, is flexibility. Multimodal options give customers the ability to choose faster or slower routes depending on market demand at any given time, whether that’s prioritising speed for a launch or cost-efficiency for routine replenishment. Third, it helps us reach deeper into the hinterland, connecting India’s manufacturing and consumption centres far from the coast directly to global supply chains. And fourth, railbased inland movement has a meaningfully lower carbon footprint than road transport, which supports the decarbonisation goals our customers are increasingly setting for themselves.
This is an abridged version of the interview published in the August edition of the logistics Insider Magazine. To read the complete edition, click here,
