1. The Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), India organised National Consultations on Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, 03 September 2021. The Consultation was held virtually and 15 experts from India participated. The speakers constituted a multi-disciplinary group of academicians, scientists and naval analysts, specialising in the area of maritime affairs. The discussion during the Consultations focused on the seven pillars of the IPOI e. (a) Maritime Security; (b) Maritime Ecology; (c) Maritime Resources; (d) Capacity Building and Resource Sharing; (e) Disaster Risk Reduction and Management; (f) Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation; and (g) Trade, Connectivity and Maritime Transport. These were grouped into four technical sessions
2. Director General, ICWA, Vijay Thakur Singh delivered the welcome address. She highlighted the deep influence of oceans and seas in India's history and strategic calculus and how it would shape India’s future. She stated that the IPOI builds upon the SAGAR initiative announced by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in March 2015 which encourages States to conserve and sustainably use the maritime domain, and to make meaningful efforts to create a safe, secure and stable maritime domain.
3. The keynote address was delivered by Riva Ganguly Das, Secretary (East), MEA, India. She focused on the importance of interconnectedness of the Indo-Pacific and the region’s emergence as a driver of international trade and prosperity. She highlighted that India's vision for the Indo-Pacific is positive and includes all nations in the geography and beyond, who have a stake in it. IPOI does not envisage creating a new institutional framework, but to promote practical cooperation among existing frameworks. The special address was delivered by Dr. Malini V Shankar I.A.S.(Retd.), Vice Chancellor, Indian Maritime University (IMU), Chennai. She highlighted the importance of Indo-Pacific region, stating that it was closely linked to "Act East" Policy and SAGAR and that the aim of the IPOI is to facilitate maritime cooperation and partnerships with like-minded countries.
4. The first session on 'Maritime Security', was chaired by Vice Admiral M P Muralidharan (Retd.), Former Director General, Indian Coast Guard, India. The session highlighted the importance of multi-lateral naval cooperation and highlighted the contribution that Naval Confidence Building Measures (NCBMs) and Incidents at Sea Agreements (INCSEA) can make to a peaceful and stable Indo-Pacific region.
5. The second session on "Maritime Ecology / Maritime Resource" was chaired by Professor Balasaheb Kulkerni, Director (Retd), The Institute of Science, Mumbai. The panel highlighted that the health of the oceans and seas was deteriorating due to human intervention. Among many other issues, marine litter and plastic pollution are a major challenge for the protection of marine and coastal ecosystem.
6. The third session on" Capacity Building and Resource Sharing / Risk Reduction and Management" chaired by Professor (Dr) V. Yoga Jyotsna, Honorary Adjunct Fellow, National Maritime Foundation, New Delhi. The discussion highlighted that a large number of developing coastal states are constrained due to the lack of necessary financial and technical resources. While aid and technical assistance from other States can fill this gap, public-private partnerships can also prove to be helpful. In this context innovating and financing for development of Blue Economy becomes essential.
7. The fourth session on "Science, Technology & Academic Cooperation / Trade, Connectivity and Maritime Transport" was chaired by Vijay Sakhuja, Consultant, ICWA. The session highlighted the symbiotic relationship between oceans and science. Commercial maritime world is harnessing Industry 4.0 for digital connectivity for enhancing efficiency of maritime supply chains.
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