India and France have agreed to increase their bilateral blue economy exchanges, establish a common vision of ocean governance based on the rule of law, and collaborate on sustainable and resilient coastal and waterway infrastructure. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s three-day visit to France, which began on February 20 with bilateral meetings with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian, resulted in the signing of the agreement.
The scope of the roadmap will include maritime trade, the naval industry, fisheries, marine technology, and scientific research, as well as ocean observation, marine biodiversity, marine ecosystem-based management, integrated coastal management, marine eco-tourism, inland waterways, civil maritime cooperation, marine spatial planning, and international law of the sea and related multilateral negotiations.
“While preserving the environment and coastal and marine biodiversity, India and France want to make the blue economy a driver of their respective countries’ progress.” Both countries want to contribute to scientific knowledge and ocean conservation, as well as ensure that the ocean remains a global common, free and open place governed by the rule of law, according to a statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs on February 20.
France and India want to contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goal
The two countries want to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of conserving and using oceans, seas, and marine resources sustainably, according to the statement. Both sides urged for a long-term approach to fishing that would provide adequate living conditions for fishermen while also maintaining the resource in the medium and long term.
“India and France have a high-quality maritime security conversation that allows them to discuss strategic concerns in the Indo-Pacific.” “This agreement represents a significant step forward in India-France maritime security cooperation,” the Ministry stated. In the framework of the common roadmap “EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Roadmap to 2025” and the EU strategy for Indo-Pacific cooperation, India and France are also committed to promoting cooperation between the European Union and India on the blue economy and ocean governance, according to the statement.
The two countries intend to hold an annual bilateral dialogue on the blue economy and ocean governance to share their goals, best practices, and encourage existing and future cooperation.
India and France will coordinate their views in multilateral forums and discussions in order to develop international maritime law and adapt to new challenges, according to the roadmap. They will also improve their coordination in preparation for the UN Environment Assembly’s fifth session in 2022, in order to assist the start of discussions on a worldwide agreement on marine plastic waste and microplastic.
“In the expansion of bilateral economic exchanges, India and France would prioritize the blue economy.” They’ll make it easier for economic actors, corporate leaders, techno-poles, and marine clusters in the two countries to connect, as well as cross-border investments and visa issuance for blue-economy entrepreneurs,” it stated.
Given France’s aquaculture expertise, the two countries will collaborate on the commercial development of new farming technologies, as well as joint development in the farming of marine organisms for food and other products such as pharmaceuticals and jewelry, in an environmentally friendly manner, according to the Ministry. It went on to say that this might involve the combined creation of brood banks, nucleus breeding facilities, hatcheries and nurseries, feed delivery, and joint studies for aquatic disease prevention.
Both parties will promote the exchange of information and approaches for improving current infrastructure, enhancing climate change resilience, expanding port capacity, building storage facilities, and developing plug-and-play infrastructure in ports. This collaboration could include dredging equipment, fishing ships/boats, trawlers, spare parts and repair services, underwater cabling and its maintenance, ice-making, rope, net gear, and maritime equipment, for example.
They will also work together to expand domestic waterways, which is one of India’s top goals for infrastructure development. Infrastructure improvements, fairway development, navigational aids, and river information systems are all examples of this.
Both Countries looking to strengthen Scientific Cooperation
India and France would also strengthen their scientific cooperation and student and researcher exchanges. The two countries will remain completely committed to the Knowledge Summit, which France and India hold every two years to promote bilateral scientific cooperation.
Under the Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA/IFCPAR), the two countries will seek private investment to construct an R&D Centre to promote cooperative projects and will work to spur and support projects on the blue economy and ocean expertise. They would also promote scientific collaboration between their research institutes and streamline administrative procedures for persons interested in research, such as visa granting and authorizations.