Tamil Nadu has launched a new effort to change the way the sea is viewed in economic planning, arguing that the ocean too should be “industrialised” like land. As part of this shift, the state government has introduced a shipbuilding policy for 2026 and says it is working to build a comprehensive marine economy.
The article points to the Chola period to underline Tamil Nadu’s historical strengths in maritime planning. Poompuhar, an ancient Chola capital, is described as a city designed specifically around the sea—more than a settlement that merely grew along the coast.
Sangam literature, particularly Pattinappaalai, is cited to portray the scale of overseas trade. Foreign ships are said to have arrived with goods such as gold, liquor and glassware, and returned through barter with pepper, pearls and fine textiles—highlighting the region’s role in international commerce.
It also recalls the 1025 naval expedition led by Rajendra Chola against the Srivijaya empire in Southeast Asia, described as an operation that brought key sea trade routes under control. With state backing, private merchant guilds such as Ayyavole 500 and Manigramam are noted as having built trade networks extending into Southeast Asia.
