In a first, 2-day global maritime meet in Delhi from November 18

Representatives from 60-65 countries will take part in the dialogue, said a source in the ministry.

The conference, the first-ever being held in India, is being co-hosted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Observer Research Foundation. (Representative image)

IN A bid to enhance India’s clout in the global merchant shipping sector, the government is hosting a two-day global maritime conference – Sagarmanthan: The Great Oceans Dialogue – in national capital on November 18 and 19.

The conference, the first-ever being held in India, is being co-hosted by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Observer Research Foundation. Representatives from 60-65 countries will take part in the dialogue, said a source in the ministry.

“Despite the fact that we are the most populous nation and also one of the largest economies of the world, our maritime clout has been lower than expected. The dialogue is aimed at garnering the attention of global stakeholders to the fact that India is looking at expanding its role in global maritime trade and merchant shipping,” said an official.

A concept note put out by ORF says, “The country has already contributed about 16% of the global growth in 2023, and it is on the way to becoming the third-largest global economy within the next three years. As India grows, the maritime domain takes on a more critical role in international collaborations on commerce, connectivity, trade, and human well-being. With its growing heft in international relations, India has the opportunity and responsibility to play a more prominent role in maritime governance. This, however, requires deepening our engagement with diverse stakeholders from policymaking ecosystems, helping inform perspectives on India, its ambitions, presence, and interests, and steering conversations on issues of global relevance.”

The inaugural remarks will be delivered by Ministry Secretary T K Ramachandran.

Vikas Pathak

Vikas Pathak is deputy associate editor with The Indian Express and writes on national politics. He has over 17 years of experience, and has worked earlier with The Hindustan Times and The Hindu, among other publications. He has covered the national BJP, some key central ministries and Parliament for years, and has covered the 2009 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls and many state assembly polls. He has interviewed many Union ministers and Chief Ministers. Vikas has taught as a full-time faculty member at Asian College of Journalism, Chennai; Symbiosis International University, Pune; Jio Institute, Navi Mumbai; and as a guest professor at Indian Institute of Mass Communication, New Delhi. Vikas has authored a book, Contesting Nationalisms: Hinduism, Secularism and Untouchability in Colonial Punjab (Primus, 2018), which has been widely reviewed by top academic journals and leading newspapers. He did his PhD, M Phil and MA from JNU, New Delhi, was Student of the Year (2005-06) at ACJ and gold medalist from University Rajasthan College in Jaipur in graduation. He has been invited to top academic institutions like JNU, St Stephen’s College, Delhi, and IIT Delhi as a guest speaker/panellist. ... Read More

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maritime dialogue