India–Panama
Maritime Partnership
Prelims:
International Relations, Economy
Mains:
GS Paper II- Bilateral, Regional and Global
Groupings, GS Paper III
-Infrastructure
Current
relevance:
The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways,
held bilateral talks with Panama's
Minister of Foreign Affairs,to strengthen maritime cooperation.
Highlights:
1.
India and Panama agreed to deepen cooperation in
shipping, logistics, maritime security,
skill development, and digital transformation, recognising these as the key
pillars of their expanded strategic partnership.
2.
India identified Panama as its natural gateway to Central America, Latin America, and
the Caribbean, while recognising its role as one of the world's foremost maritime logistics hubs.
3.
Both countries agreed to leverage Panama's strategic logistics strengths and
India's expanding maritime capabilities
to:
i.
Build resilient supply chains
ii.
Strengthen global connectivity
iii.
Promote trade and investment
iv.
Foster innovation and sustainable growth
4.
Panama identified four priority areas for expanding maritime cooperation:
i.
Maritime security.
ii.
Technical collaboration between India's Directorate General of Shipping and
the Panama Maritime Authority.
iii.
Maritime education and skilling.
iv.
Digital maritime transformation, including artificial
Intelligence (AI), smart port logistics, maritime single-window systems.
5.
India highlighted
its ongoing transformation through investments in Ports, Shipping, Inland waterways, Logistics, shipbuilding, cruise
tourism, green maritime initiatives.
6.
Future
Collaboration:
India proposed cooperation in maritime transportation and
port development, Green ship recycling,
Seafarer welfare and skill development, Port
modernization, warehousing, digital
innovation, maritime infrastructure.
Source: PIB - https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2288042®=48&lang=1