The Navy chief further recalled the important steps taken in the previous maritime conclaves…reports Asian Lite News
Indian Navy Chief Admiral Hari Kumar on Tuesday said that the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) cannot be viewed in isolation from wider maritime space around the globe.
Addressing at 4th Goa Maritime Conclave, Navy Chief Hari Kumar said,” In all of these endeavours, the Indian Ocean Region cannot be viewed in isolation to wider maritime space around the globe, and this uniting characteristic of oceans was reflected by our Defence Minister during his Key Note Address.”
“Hence, my suggestion would be about rationalising and prioritising our efforts under numerous other bilateral, minilateral and multilateral constructs in the IOR be it the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, Indian Ocean Rim Association, Colombo Security Conclave, among many others,” he added.
The Navy chief further recalled the important steps taken in the previous maritime conclaves.
“Identification and promulgation of Common Maritime Priorities (CMPs) during GMC 21 was a logical and crucial first step in that direction. The adoption of CMPs has been a milestone ‘Statement of Intent, and a guiding beacon in our collective undertakings under the GMC construct Building on that consensus, GMS 22 concentrated on action-oriented deliberations and has laid a strong foundation for us to convert these Priorities into tangible and actionable mitigation frameworks,” he said.
He further pointed out that Goa Maritime Conclave should move forward with an approach that is based on the execution of ideas.
“GMC needs to be a truly functional platform that, not only provokes thoughts and ideas, but also generates collective solutions to our regional problems. Accordingly, as executors of GMC’s initiatives, it would be our collective responsibility to successfully implement derived action plans, and establish GMC as the ideal construct to design and deliver maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region,”
The three-day conclave, which commenced on October 29, 2023, was attended by Delegate in Charge of Defence, Comoros Mohamed Ali Youssoufa and Chiefs of Navies/Heads of Maritime Forces/Senior representatives from eleven other Indian Ocean nations – Bangladesh, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
The theme for this fourth edition is ‘Maritime Security in the Indian Ocean Region: Converting Common Maritime Priorities into Collaborative Mitigating Frameworks’. (ANI)
The Donier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft will replace the one which was handed over exactly a year ago to the island nation by the Indian government…reports Asian Lite News
Sri Lanka has thanked India for helping to protect the island nation’s airspace and the sea including its exclusive economic zone through maritime and coastal surveillance operations.
The gratitude towards India came on Wednesday from Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s senior Advisor on National Security Sagala Ratnayaka when he was accepting a successor Indian Navy Dornier aircraft handed over to the Sri Lanka Air Force.
The Donier-228 maritime surveillance aircraft will replace the one which was handed over exactly a year ago to the island nation by the Indian government.
The Dornier had to be returned to India for scheduled mandatory maintenance.
Following a request by Sri Lanka during a bilateral security discussion on the potential acquisition of maritime surveillance aircraft between India and Sri Lanka in January 2018 in New Delhi, the Donier which was part of the Indian Navy’s fleet was given to Sri Lanka on free of cost for a span of two years.
Ratnayaka appreciated India’s support, especially during the financial crisis Sri Lanka was going through last year and said “India stepped up beyond the call of duty to lend us a hand”.
He also stressed that the two neighbours, Sri Lanka and India, “will have to work together to ensure the safety of each other”. He also recollected that the US and Australian governments also came forward in the area of maritime security to assist the Sri Lanka Air Force and the Sri Lanka Navy.
Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay said that India has remained committed towards capacity building and sustained development of Sri Lanka’s Defence forces, as a reflection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR).
He also said that this engagement would be further cemented by sourcing additional Dornier aircraft by Sri Lanka with Indian assistance in the future.
Baglay emphasised that the Indian Navy Dornier deployed last year made a significant contribution towards maritime reconnaissance and SAR missions in Sri Lanka. “The aircraft’s operational availability was impressive and was able to streamline the SOPs between the two services.”
“Securing our seas through the induction of this aircraft will help in creating a peaceful environment for progress and prosperity of the people of our two nations and is symbolic of the high priority accorded to Sri Lanka as part of India’s ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy,” the Indian High Commission said in a statement.
hief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2023, in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI Photo)
Highlighting the ever-changing technology in the field of modern warfare, Navy Chief Admiral R Hari Kumar on Saturday underscored the importance of cooperation and working together in the maritime domain.
Speaking at a panel discussion on ‘The future of conflict: Lessons from the Third Decade’ at Delhi: Raisina Dialogue 2023, the Navy said, “In the maritime domain, challenges are not traditional or non-traditional. It is a problem for all of us. We always look to cooperate and work together in the maritime domain.” Modern warfare has changed from large-scale clashes of armies to suppression of civilian populations via chemical weapons, drones (used extensively in the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war), etc.
“Whenever technology is developed, we find that there is always a counter to it. As we are seeing in the ongoing Ukraine war, when technology is brought into the battlefield it is immediately countered,” the Navy chief said.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral R Hari Kumar with General Koji Yamazaki, Admiral John C Aquilino, Admiral Sir Ben Key, Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee and Bec Shrimpton at the Raisina Dialogue 2023, in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI Photo)
Underlining the importance of small groupings for an agile coalition and partnership, he said, “When we work in smaller groups then it serves the purpose and generates trust in partner countries. India as a country looks at everybody in the region to prosper together.”
Apart from Kumar, the other participants at the panel discussion comprised Bec Shrimpton, Director of the Sydney Dialogue, Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) and former Defence, DFAT, Austrade and senior adviser to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, General Koji Yamazaki, Chief of Staff of Japan Self-Defense Forces, Admiral John C Aquilino, Commander, US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord and Chief Of Naval Staff, VADM/VAM Angus Topshee, 38th Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy,
New Delhi, Mar 04 (ANI): Commander of the Royal Canadian Navy Vice-Admiral Angus Topshee at the Raisina Dialogue 2023, in New Delhi on Saturday. (ANI Photo)
Adm Sir Ben Key, First Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Staff, UK supported the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
“We support ‘Make in India’. India is reaching out for partnerships, but it is also making sure that it is resilient to external threats,” he said. (ANI)
The visit by the Indian Coast Guard ships is significant since maritime cooperation is an important component of India-Bangladesh bilateral ties…reports Asian Lite News
Two Indian Coast Guard ships, the ICGS Shaurya and ICGS Rajveer, sailed into Chittagong last Friday on a six-day visit with the goal of enhancing maritime cooperation between India and Bangladesh. The ships were given a warm welcome by the Bangladesh Coast Guard.
Later, an Indian Coast Guard training team held a session on pollution response for Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG) personnel at the BCG base. Additionally, the two ships hosted 30 students from the Bangladesh Navy School and College in Chittagong. The students were given a guided tour of the ships, which gave them an up-close look at and understanding of the various equipment there.
The commanding officers of the Indian Coast Guard ships Shaurya and Rajveer also held a meeting with Rear Admiral Nazmul Hassan, Commander Chittagong Naval Area. They addressed a number of issues of shared interest related to defence cooperation and maritime security.
The commanding officers also met with the Bangladesh East Zone Zonal Commander Captain Mohammad Sohel Azam.
The visit by the Indian Coast Guard ships is significant since maritime cooperation is an important component of India-Bangladesh bilateral ties.
With Bangladesh securing 19,467 square kilometers of the 25,602 square kilometers of water space in the Bay of Bengal, these two neighbors peacefully delineated their maritime boundary in 2014, setting a model for collaboration for all nations with maritime issues.
Due to the frequent visits of ships between the Navies and Coast Guards of India and Bangladesh, the relationship, which had long-standing ties in every other area of cooperation, has grown stronger over the years. This is because the visits help to increase mutual trust and understanding between the two nations and their armed forces.
Both nations have made several gestures that highlight their close ties and how heavily maritime issues are entwined in their respective cultures. India has approved six agreements aimed at fostering marine cooperation under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. These agreements include memoranda of understanding (MOUs) on passenger and cruise services on protocol routes, fairway development, navigational cooperation, joint patrols, and counterterrorism training.
India has not only put its economy but also its maritime security at the forefront of its maritime accords.
India has provided training for Bangladesh’s navy crews. Additionally, one of the six agreements reached during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Bangladesh in June 2015 was a memorandum of understanding between the coast guards of the two nations intended to fight piracy and improve maritime security in the Bay of Bengal.
The recent incident in which the Indian Coast Guard saved 20 Bangladeshis and turned them over to their country under extraordinary circumstances underscored another aspect of the mutually beneficial relationship. (India News Network)
Indian Navy's P8I LRMRASW aircraft arrived at AFB Hickam, Joint Base Pearl Harbour in Hawaii, USA
The crew also visited the historic museum ship USS Missouri and paid homage to fallen soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during World War II at USS Arizona Memorial….reports Asian Lite News
Twenty-eight countries, 38 warships, nine land forces, 31 unmanned systems, 170 aircraft and over 25,000 personnel are participating in the 28th edition of the multi-dimensional exercise….reports
Indian Navy’s indigenous Frigate INS Satpura and P8I maritime patrol aircraft are at Pearl Harbour in Hawaii taking part in one of the largest multilateral Naval Exercises, the Rim of the Pacific exercise, also known as RIMPAC.
Twenty-eight countries, 38 warships, nine land forces, 31 unmanned systems, 170 aircraft and over 25,000 personnel are participating in the 28th edition of the multi-dimensional exercise.
US, Indian Marine Commandos, Republic of Korea SEALs and German Maritime Interdiction Operations Company Special Operations Forces conduct VBSS training
The harbour phase of the exercise saw participation in multiple symposiums, exercise planning discussions and sports competitions, the Ministry of Defence said on Tuesday.
The crew also visited the historic museum ship USS Missouri and paid homage to fallen soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice during World War II at USS Arizona Memorial.
The sea phase commences on July 12 and will culminate with the closing ceremony on August 4.
INS Satpura and one P8I maritime patrol aircraft are participating in the exercise which spans over six weeks of intense operations and training aimed at enhancing interoperability and building trust among Navies of friendly foreign countries.
While Satpura reached Hawaii on June 27, the P8I LRMRASW aircraft arrived on July 2.
The P8I Detachment led by Cdr Puneet Dabas will be participating in coordinated multinational, multiplatform advanced Anti Submarine Warfare operations along with 20 MPRAs from seven participating nations, the defence ministry said.
He emphasised on the need for an efficient, cooperative and collaborative harnessing of the region’s maritime potential for sustaining a steady path to prosperity, said the Ministry of Defence…reports Asian Lite News.
India is fully determined to protect its maritime interests, while it supports the maintenance of rule-based maritime systems, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday.
“India is committed to respecting the rights of all nations as laid down in the UN Convention on the Law of Seas (UNCLOS), 1982. We are fully determined to protect the legitimate rights and interests of our country in relation to our territorial waters and Exclusive Economic Zone, while supporting the maintenance of rule-based maritime systems, as mandated under UNCLOS, 1982,” he said.
Singh was delivering the keynote address at the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD) 2021, being held virtually from October 27-29.
Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s description of the Indo-Pacific as a natural region, where destinies of entities are interlinked, Singh said, the seas are a vital communication link to facilitate transport of goods, exchange of ideas, catalysing innovations and contributing to bringing the world closer.
“Although the Indo-Pacific is characterised by diversity, marked by a multiplicity of cultures, ethnicities, economic models, governance systems and varied aspirations, the oceans remain a common binding link,” he pointed out.
He emphasised on the need for an efficient, cooperative and collaborative harnessing of the region’s maritime potential for sustaining a steady path to prosperity, said the Ministry of Defence.
According to the Defence Minister, while the seas offer abundant opportunities for sustenance and growth of the mankind, they pose challenges such as terrorism, piracy, drug trafficking and climate change.
He called for a cooperative response to these challenges which, he said, has considerable trans-national implications. “There is a need to find convergence of interests and commonality of purpose on maritime issues,” he said.
Sharing his views on the broad theme of IPRD 2021, ‘Evolution in Maritime Strategy during the 21st Century: Imperatives, Challenges and Way Ahead’, Singh said, it dwells upon the region’s past, gauges the present and then arrives at tenets that will form the foundation of maritime strategies for the future.
First conducted in 2018, the IPRD is the apex international annual conference of the Indian Navy and is the principal manifestation of the Navy’s engagement at the strategic-level. The National Maritime Foundation is the Navy’s knowledge partner and chief organiser of each edition of this annual event. The aim of each successive edition is to review both opportunities and challenges that arise within the Indo-Pacific.
Under the broad theme, the IPRD 2021 will focus on eight specific sub-themes. These are:
* Evolving Maritime Strategies within the Indo-Pacific: Convergences, Divergences, Expectations and Apprehensions.
Addressing the Inaugural session of Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2021. Watch https://t.co/8Q2bK1NfGZ
* Impact of the Increasing Recourse to Lawfare upon a Rules-based Indo-Pacific Maritime Order.
* Strategies to Promote Regional Public-Private Maritime Partnerships.
* Energy-Insecurity and Mitigating Strategies.
* Strategies to Address the Manned-Unmanned Conundrum at Sea.
Panel-discussions on these sub-themes would be spread over eight sessions on three successive days, thereby providing ample scope for varied perspectives to be considered. The aim is to encourage a free flow of ideas and views.
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh, former Chief of the Naval Staff and Chairman, National Maritime Foundation Admiral Sunil Lanba (Retd), domain experts and policy makers of different countries were present virtually during the inaugural session.
Meeting was attended by Russian President Vadimir Putin, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Britain’s Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace, reports Arul Louis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday proposed five basic principles for a holistic approach to maritime security that holds the “key to the planet’s future” and the UN Security Council, in a show of support, adopted India’s Presidential Statement reflecting them.
The proposals made by Modi while presiding over a high-level meeting of the Security Council on maritime security — the first such major initiative at the UN — touched the veins of deep international concerns with heads of state and government and ministers from around the world participating.
Outlining the challenges faced by the world, he said the “common maritime heritage of our faces various types of threats. Maritime routes are being misused for piracy and terrorism. There are maritime disputes between several countries. Climate change and natural disasters are also challenges to the maritime domain”.
“In this context we need a framework for mutual cooperation in order to conserve and utilise our shared maritime heritage,” he said.
This was the first time that an Indian Prime Minister wielded the gavel at the Council highlighting the importance New Delhi gives to maritime security given its 7,000-km seacoast and its pivotal position on the key trade routes emanating from East and Southeast Asia.
The meeting was held virtually because of the Covid-19 pandemic travel issues, but it also enabled the participation of world leaders.
Russian President Vladmir Putin
Permanent member Russia’s President Vadimir Putin made a rare appearance at the meeting in which Kenya’s President Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta and Vietnam’s Prime Minister Pham Vinh Chin also participated. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was represented by his Chef de Cabinet Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti.
While not a member of the Council, African Union President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, who is also President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was represented by his Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula given the high importance of maritime safety for the continent.
All the other Council members were represented at the ministerial level with the noticeable exceptions of China and Tunisia. Beijing sent in a low-level representative and struck a discordant note attacking the Indo-Pacific initiative and directly the US and Japan.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and Britain’s Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace were among the ministerial participants.
The Council unanimously adopted the presidential statement by India that warned against the threats posed by terrorism and called for international action to protect the world against the danger.
The statement said: “The Security Council acknowledges that terrorists may target vulnerable targets, including critical infrastructure and public places, and specifically the transportation sector, including seaports and maritime transport, as well as interconnected critical infrastructure which underlines the importance of enhanced cooperation to protect critical infrastructure, including cross-border infrastructure and calls upon Member States to implement relevant UN Security Council resolutions.”
The statement asked all countries “to continue building and strengthening their capacities to enhance maritime safety and security, including against piracy and armed robbery at sea and terrorist activities, as well as against all forms of transnational organised crimes and other illicit activities in the maritime domain through the competent organisations and instruments”.
In his speech outlining the five principles, Modi called for joint international action against “non-state actors” — a UN term for terrorists.
Modi started the meeting with a moment of silence for the victims of the Covid-19 pandemic and ended it with the invocation of “Om Shanti”.
He recalled the role of the seas not only in trade but also in cultural exchanges for India, noting the spread of Buddhism from India across the ocean.
In his five principles, Modi went beyond the conventional concepts of maritime safety that focus on imminent threats like piracy and government actions to include protecting the maritime environment and its resources and promoting trade over the oceans.
He said that maritime security cooperation should include protecting the marine environment and resources as well as cooperation in dealing with natural disasters.
Martime disputes should be resolved peacefully and in accordance with international law, he said.
Other basic principles, he said, were removing barriers to international trade and promoting maritime connectivity.
Modi outlined as examples of the principles in action, the agreement on maritime boundaries with Bangladesh and the initiatives like the SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) programme that encompasses assistance in natural and man-made disasters and surveillance of economic zones.
Chairing the UNSC High-Level Open Debate on “Enhancing Maritime Security: A Case For International Cooperation”. https://t.co/cG5EgQNENA
Putin, who welcomed India convening the high-level meeting, suggested unified action under the UN against piracy and terrorism with special services and armed contingents to fight the menace adding that Russia was prepared to share its experience of anti-terrorist operations.
The piracy threat “is aggravated by the fact that some countries cannot fight against transnational crime syndicates pirates and terrorists on their own”, he said.
Viotti said that “maritime security is being undermined at alarming levels — from challenges around contested boundaries and navigation routes that do not conform to international law, to the depletion of natural resources – including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing”.
However, piracy, robbery and terrorist acts, as well as use of mines and drones posed a grave danger, she said, pointing out that despite a fall in in the volume of maritime traffic due to the Covid-19 pandemic, piracy nearly doubled in Asia last year.
“Maritime insecurity is also compounding the terrorist threat emerging from the Sahel region,” she said, adding that “these growing and interlinked threats call for a truly global and integrated response”.
The UK’s Defence Minister Ben Wallace said that his country shared India’s “vision for a free, open and secure Indo-Pacific”, which, he said, was “the world’s growth engine”.
Modi and Prime Minister Boris Johnson agreed in May on a new Maritime Partnership in the Western Indian Ocean, he added.
It will be the first time that an Indian Prime Minister will preside over an open debate at the world body…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually chair an open debate on maritime security at the United Nations Security Council on August 9, the Ministry of External Affairs said on Tuesday.
It will be the first time that an Indian Prime Minister will preside over an open debate at the world body.
Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet, “PM @narendramodi will Chair Open Debate on ‘Maintenance of international peace and security: Maritime security’ in virtual mode @UN #SecurityCouncil on 9th August. This will be the 1st time an Indian Prime Minister will preside over Open Debate.”
Indian Navy participates in maritime drill along East Coast of Africa
On August 1, India took over the rotating presidency for the month at the 15-nation UN Security Council, and on January 1, India began its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member of the UNSC. It is India’s seventh term.
India has planned high-level engagements with the world community on key focus issues like maritime security, peacekeeping and counter-terrorism during the month of August.
India has been in the forefront in helping friendly countries in pursuit of the country’s ‘Act East’ policy and to enhance military cooperation with the friendly countries.
The Indian Navy undertakes regular deployments to friendly foreign countries and in the Indian and Pacific Ocean regions in furtherance of the Prime Minister’s initiative of ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ (SAGAR).
Such engagements build ‘Bridges of Friendship’ and strengthen international cooperation.
These maritime initiatives enhance synergy and coordination between the Indian Navy and friendly countries, based on common maritime interests and commitment towards ‘Freedom of Navigation’ at sea.
Besides regular port calls, Indian Navy operates in conjunction with the friendly navies to build military relations and develop interoperability in the conduct of maritime operations.
This concern was conveyed during India and ARF Senior Officials’ meet, reports Asian Lite News
Expressing its concern over growing traditional and non-traditional threats to the maritime security environment, India on Tuesday called for the need to work together based on convergences between the ASEAN Outlook for the Indo-Pacific and India’s Indo–Pacific Oceans’ Initiative and Indo-Pacific policies announced by several ARF countries.
Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs, Riva Ganguly Das conveyed such concern while participating in the ASEAN Regional Forum Senior Officials’ Meeting in a virtual format. The meeting was attended by representatives from the 27 ASEAN Regional Forum countries.
According to the MEA, Secretary East also shared India’s perspectives on addressing the threat posed by terrorism and the challenges of cyber security.
The meeting reviewed ARF activities and exchanges over the past year and deliberated on the future plans and efforts under the ARF.
Senior Officials exchanged views on the regional and international issues including the COVID-19 pandemic, terrorism, cyber security, developments in the South China Sea, Myanmar and Korean Peninsula.
In June 2021, India co-chaired an ARF workshop on ‘United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea’ and will co-chair an Inter-Sessional Meeting on Maritime Security, workshops on “Law of the Sea and Fisheries”, and “International Ship and Port facility Security Code” in the upcoming year. (INN)
As India prepares for a post Covid phase with a focus on economic revival, reliance on the blue economy, which has not been leveraged fully, will inevitably be amplified, reports Mahua Venkatesh
India’s blue economy “essentially the ocean economy” is making a healthy 4 per cent contribution to India’s gross domestic product.
Yet, this a proverbial drop in the ocean. Unfortunately, India’s marine policy has remained fragmented, notwithstanding the ambitious Sagarmala project.
But as India prepares for a post Covid phase with a focus on economic revival, reliance on the blue economy, which has not been leveraged fully, will inevitably be amplified.
India, with a 7517 km long coastline and1382 islands, has a unique maritime position but it is yet to carve out a well thought-out holistic marine strategy encompassing issues pertaining to economic opportunities and security while maintaining ecological balance.
The draft policy on the framework of the blue economy, taking a 360-degree view was submitted in September last year, but work on it is yet to begin.
At a time, when a belligerent China is increasing its activities on the South China Sea and elsewhere, India’s marine policy that looks at all angles would be key, experts said.
“With such expanded coastlines, we need to think of the economy along with security. But unlike many other countries with coastlines, India has not leveraged its maritime position as much as it should have,” Nirupama Soundararajan, Senior Fellow and Head of Research, Pahle India Foundation told India Narrative.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing at the inauguration of the ‘Maritime India Summit 2021 (PIB)
The draft framework noted that about 1400 million tonnes of cargo is handled by 12 major and 187 non-major ports every year.
The Sagarmala project
Though the Sagarmala project, touted as the “port-led development,” aims at increasing connectivity through waterways and reduce logistics costs, the draft policy has underlined the need to develop similar “port led maritime clusters” with government support on the West and East coasts.
Marine tourism is another important sector. The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in its research — Blue economy: An ocean of livelihood opportunities in India�pointed out that India’s marine tourism is one of the fastest growing in the world though it has been brutally hit by the Covid 19 pandemic.
In states like Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu, marine tourism contributed largely to both the state economies and livelihood creation before the pandemic hit, it said. “In Kerala, the total number of jobs created directly and indirectly by the sector between 2009 and 2012 turned out to be around 23 per cent of the total employment. In 2016, the total share of tourism in Tamil Nadu’s employment was more than 22 per cent and 23 per cent in Karnataka’s,” TERI said.
Maldives – how the country used its oceans for economic growth
Many countries in the world have relied on marine tourism to boost their economy. The Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) in March highlighted that Maldives, an archipelago state “embarked on the blue economy paradigm to shape its development strategies in order to put the economy on the high growth path.”
“As a Small Island Developing State (SIDS), Maldives advanced its development journey from a poor state of less than $100 per capita income in the early 1970s to an Upper-Middle income country of $12,500 per capita income in 2020 on account its strong adherence to blue economy sectors,” the study said.
Importance of protecting marine life
Analysts underlined the need to ensure that the ecological balance is maintained while economic activities are increased.
“The ocean framework is not very well regulated and therefore it can easily lead to imbalance. Ocean life is critical and the need to balance the benefits of the blue economy without damaging the ecological balance is crucial,” Soundararajan said.
The government’s draft policy noted that marine pollution is the greatest threat to the health of the oceans. About 80 percent of marine pollution emanates from land based sources specially from coastal cities and communities. Therefore, it is the need of the hour to expand the approach and implementation of Swachh Bharat to the concept of �Swachh Prithvi, Swachh Sagar’ it said.
(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
