Narendra Modi has just inaugurated a National Maritime Summit, perhaps the country’s first. Using the occasion, he has announced ambitious goals in terms of capacities, investment and jobs, all of which may or may not be realised.

The important thing though is that it has brought into focus a long neglected aspect of the Indian economy: its poor trade infrastructure. There is no reason why China’s 10th largest port should be 50 per cent bigger than India’s largest. And why all of India’s 12 ports that are officially classified as “major” should not be able ...