HT Bureau
NEW DELHI, Sept 4: Shantanu Thakur, minister of state for the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, asserted on Wednesday that the Centre will collaborate with global policymakers and industry leaders to identify high-impact ideas to boost the blue economy.
He emphasised that the government’s goal is to align India’s maritime priorities with international objectives, ensuring that our contributions to ocean governance are both meaningful and far-reaching.
“We will work collaboratively with global policymakers, scholars, and the industry to identify high-impact ideas that can galvanize the blue economy,” Thakur said at the curtain-raiser event for the launch of Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue.
He further noted that the conference represents the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to unlocking the vast potential of oceans while ensuring their sustainable and equitable development.
“This conference is a significant step towards fostering global cooperation and innovative solutions for a thriving maritime future,” Thakur added. He also highlighted that the initiative recognizes that a flourishing ocean economy depends on strong partnerships.
“Sagarmanthan will serve as an enabling platform for these partnerships and alliances, bringing together diverse perspectives and expertise to craft a comprehensive and forward-looking framework for ocean governance,” he said.
Union minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal echoed these sentiments, stating, “Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue represents the Ministry’s unwavering commitment to unlocking the vast potential of oceans while ensuring their sustainable and equitable development. This conference is a significant step towards fostering global cooperation and innovative solutions for a thriving maritime future.”
Sonowal also noted that these initiatives aim to improve the efficiency and performance of ports, strengthen shipping and national waterways, enable large-scale coastal employment and capacity building, and unlock and leverage the full potential of the blue economy.
The inaugural edition of Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue is scheduled to be held in Mumbai from November 18 to 19, 2024. The event is expected to feature representatives from 75-100 countries, with ministerial representation from over 10 nations.
This pioneering platform will address four key thematic pillars critical to shaping the future of India’s maritime domains: new frontiers of connectivity, infrastructure and development; partnerships for progress and blue growth; green and blue perspectives on sustainability, technology, and innovation; and the social impact of maritime governance on coasts and communities.
As India continues its rise as a global economic power, the maritime sector’s role in international collaboration, trade, and security becomes increasingly critical. The realisation of India’s economic ambitions relies heavily on the strength and resilience of its maritime sector, which plays a crucial role in shaping global narratives, maintaining resilient supply chains, and securing vital maritime partnerships.
