India's 'blue economy' was the hot topic at the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) exchange ceremony on Friday between the Center for Maritime Economy & Connectivity (CMEC) and the University of Delhi.
The event, which saw the attendance of Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Sarbananda Sonowal, is aimed at adding to the discourse around India's blue economy growth and contributing to maritime capacity building with the MoUs.
The exchange ceremony saw two MoUs signed.
The first was between the University of Delhi and the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), for capacity building in the maritime sector and academic exchanges.
The second MoU, signed between the RIS and the Delhi School of Economics, focuses on joint programmes in public policy research and training.
"The (MoUs) will foster skill development, interdisciplinary maritime research and training, unlocking vast opportunities for the nation's youth in the maritime sector," the shipping minister said at the event.
Speaking at a panel discussion alongside the exchange ceremony, titled 'Blue Economy: Its Imperatives for a Viksit Bharat', he also reiterated that strengthening the maritime sector was not just an opportunity, but an imperative for a country like India with a coastline of more than 11,000km.
This is in line with the country's ambitious goals for the future, outlined under the Maritime India Vision 2030, the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, and the MAHASAGAR doctrine.
Sonowal further highlighted the guiding principle of India's maritime sector—'Reform, Perform, Transform'—underscoring the importance of speed and scale in driving growth in the sector.
Other important faces at the event included Prof Yogesh Singh, Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi, who presided over the event, and Prof Sachin Kumar Sharma, Director General, RIS, who delivered an address at the seminar.
Apart from Sonowal, the panel members included important maritime voices, such as Prof A. Venkat Raman, Professor & Dean, Faculty of Management Studies at the University of Delhi; Dr Ramana Murthy, Mission Director, Deep Ocean Mission, Ministry of Earth Sciences; Cmde. Sujeet Samaddar, NM (Retd), Visiting Fellow, Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), New Delhi; and Dr George E. Thomas, Former Faculty, Insurance Institute of India.
The discussion delved deep into strategic, economic, and institutional dimensions of the blue economy, highlighting its role in sustainable growth and national development.
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