India, France Agree on Roadmap for Blue Economy and Ocean Governance

India, France Agree on Roadmap for Blue Economy and Ocean Governance India and France have agreed to improve 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. The deal was concluded during Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's three-day visit to France, which began on Sunday with bilateral talks with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian. Both countries are maritime states, and as part of the future global biodiversity framework negotiations, they have pledged to collaborate on the construction and reinforcement of marine protected areas around the world. Both countries have large Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) with thriving maritime industries such as fisheries, naval industry, ocean observation, fisheries, marine ecosystem-based management and integrated coastal management, marine spatial planning, ports and shipping, scientific research, and marine technology, among others. According to the MEA, both countries want to contribute to scientific understanding and ocean conservation while also ensuring that the ocean remains a global common, a space of freedom and trade based on the rule of law. Physical and spatial oceanography, environmental impact studies, combating marine pollution, knowledge and conservation of biodiversity and marine ecosystems and services, genetic biodiversity mapping, generating a germplasm inventory, ecosystem-based approaches, fish stock monitoring, fishing techniques, stock enhancement, ocean observation, marine meteorology, deep-sea exploration technology, and oceanarium technology will be among the areas of strengthened cooperation. Furthermore, the MEA stated that studying the cumulative effects of multiple stressors on the marine environment, such as ocean acidification, pollution, and extreme weather events, as well as coastal risks and resilience, can add to India and France's scientific cooperation in the field of Blue Economy and Ocean Governance. For ocean observations, ocean modelling and forecasting, and related capacity building, collaboration between operational ocean forecasting centres in India (e.g. INCOIS) and France (e.g. IFREMER) is planned. 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. In order to promote scientific collaboration in the field of marine sciences, the French Embassy in India will provide five student mobility grants in this field starting in 2022. India would make administrative parts of such collaborations easier to implement. 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 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. Earlier today, Jaishankar met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Paris for extensive and fruitful talks, during which the two sides addressed collaboration, the Ukraine situation, and the Indo-Pacific. On February 22, he will join the EU Ministerial Forum for Indo-Pacific Cooperation, an initiative of the French Presidency of the European Council, amid China's aggression in the region.