New Delhi: With natural resources like forests and land depleting rapidly in the wake of floods, forest fire and pestilence, nations are now turning towards blue economy which is the “sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs while preserving the health of ocean ecosystem.”
Participating in a Webinar “Securing the Blue Economy” organised by Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) along with knowledge partner Society for Aerospace Maritime and Defence Studies (SAMDeS), experts felt that there was need to boost blue economy and that oceans cannot be “viewed as single property of any nation and that there is need to regulate the marine life in it.”
“India is in the process of developing its own comprehensive Blue Economy policy framework, which will cover coastal economy, tourism, marine fishery, technology, skill development, shipping, deep sea mining, and capacity building in a holistic manner,” said Akhilesh Mishra, OSD (DPA), Ministry of External Affairs.
He said harnessing the significant potential of the ocean is vital to the economic wellbeing of any nation. This is particularly important for a country like India, where land-based resources are stressed. “Blue economy is emerging as an important vital area of cooperation with nations like Australia and Indonesia,” he added.
In his address, Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Admiral Karambir Singh said that the Blue Economy offers a huge opportunity for India. “The Blue Economy contributes about four per cent of India’s GDP, there is tremendous potential to expand its contribution.”
With India aiming to emerge as a US$5 trillion economy, the only way to achieve this, is to move outwards as the oceans provide a vast resource pool, he said.
“The oceans provide us with a vast resource pool. It can be tapped to push forward India’s economic growth. With the anticipated addition of the Extended Continental Shelf, our sea area will equal India’s land area,” the Navy Chief said.
“Combined with India’s location, a 7,516 km long coastline, 14,500 km length of navigable inland waterways, and 1,382 islands, the seas must become India’s opportunity region in the coming future,” the Admiral said.
Ocean-based trade is likely to quadruple by 2050, the oceans have an annual gross value of US$2.5 trillion which makes it the eighth largest global economy.
He talked about two-thirds of the food production to be farmed from the seas; and clean offshore wind energy will be the leading power generation technology in the next few years.
He announced that there are plans for the Navy to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the member states of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). The focus of the MoU will be information sharing on critical issues. This is part of the regional grouping’s emphasis on the development of a Blue Economy through a common vision for balanced economic development in the region.
The Indian Navy has the resources, assets and domain expertise which can be used for mapping, characterising, monitoring as well as enforcing good order at sea.
Saying that the Navy aims to be, both, an enabler and element of national and regional blue economy efforts, the CNS outlined three ways the Indian Navy can contribute. These include: Maintaining comprehensive Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA); supporting maritime capability development of littoral nations; and coordinating with various national and international maritime agencies.
IORA aims at not only strengthening regional cooperation, but also sustainable development within the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) through its 23 member states and nine dialogue partners, he said.
He stressed on coordination between various national and international maritime agencies. As this will help in closing gaps in “understanding, policing and jurisdiction.”
On supporting maritime capability development of littoral nations, he said that they support partner nations through construction of patrol vessels, installation of radar chains, training support, information sharing, and Joint EEZ surveillance among others.
Speaking in the programme, former Japanese Navy Chief Admiral (Retd) K. Kawasano stressed on the need for QUAD comprising Japan, India, Australia and US to “play a central role in the Indo-Pacific region and if China wants to be part of it, it would be welcome” but expressed concern over the “aggressive activity by China specially in the South China Sea.”
US Navy Admiral (Retd) Scott Harbison Swift appreciated India for displaying strong leadership qualities in resolving disputes in the IOR and it was one of the regions where there are few maritime disputes.
On the other hand, he was critical of the “dubious behaviour” of China in the South China Sea and its aggressive attitude in the “entire region.”
Vice Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, DG, Naval Operations, Indian Navy, felt that there is need to make Blue Economy part of the Indian Economy and that maritime security was indeed imperative to ensure peaceful uses of the seas.
In his special address, San Diego based, Dr Vivek Lall, Chief Executive, General Atomics Global Corporation, said advent of satellites have enabled the monitoring of the resources in the oceans, seas and other water bodies and that it is now oceans without borders.
With oceans being open spaces he said, “Oceans cannot be viewed as single property of any nation.”
Among few other key speakers who spoke on the occasion were Mahindra Defence President SP Shukla, L&T Defence EVP Arun T Ramchandani, SAMDeS Founder and Hony Secy Cmde Sujeet Samaddar (Retd), former Chiefs of Defence Staff and Navy Chiefs from US, Japan, Israel, Sri Lanka as well as industrialists from abroad.
