India and France Adopt Road Map on ‘Blue Economy’, Ocean Governance

India and France have adopted a road map on the ‘blue economy’ and ocean governance to enhance partnership for the exploitation and preservation of marine resources through economic, infrastructure and scientific cooperation.

Road map on the ‘blue economy’ and ocean governance:

• Setting up an India-France partnership on the blue economy and ocean governance

India and France plan to set up an India-France partnership on the blue economy and ocean governance whose scope will encompass maritime trade, fisheries, ocean observation, marine biodiversity, marine protected areas, renewable marine energy, etc.

• Institutional pillar: forging a common vision of ocean governance based on the rule of law

As part of this, India and France plan to organise an annual bilateral dialogue on the blue economy and ocean governance. The dialogue will play a driving role in the formulation, organisation and follow-up of cooperation projects in the four pillars of the partnership:

• • Institutional,
  • Economic,
  • Infrastructures,
  • Scientific and academic.

• Economic pillar: making the blue economy a source of sustainable growth

India and France will prioritize the blue economy in the expansion of their economic exchanges. They will facilitate contacts between economic actors, business leaders, and maritime clusters in the two countries, as well as cross-border investments and visa issuance to blue economy entrepreneurs.

• Infrastructure pillar: Cooperating on sustainable and resilient coastal and waterways infrastructure

India is looking to develop its ports, with a focus on environmentally friendly infrastructure, such as eco-fishing ports. In this regard, both sides will encourage knowledge and methodology sharing

• Scientific and academic pillar: Better knowledge of the ocean to innovate and protect

Research in marine science and technology is indispensable for monitoring, protecting, and sustainably using marine living and non-living resources and biodiversity of the seas and the ocean, both sides will enhance their scientific cooperation as well as exchanges of students and researchers.