Both countries hold talks for protecting ocean ecosystem through blue economy
Washington: India and the US have signed an MoU to collaborate in the fields of developmental activities and aid in third world countries.
The MoU has been signed between the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), and Development Partnership Administration (DPA) of the Ministry of External Affairs of India.
MCC is a US agency providing eligible countries with grants to fund country-led solutions for reducing poverty through sustainable economic growth.
DPA looks after implementation of India’s development cooperation programmes with partner countries.
As per the MoU signed on Friday, the two countries would collaborate on exchange of information and experience in sectors or issues pertaining to project development or implementation in partner countries.
India and US might also provide advisory or technical assistance to third countries regarding sector policy reform, project and sector management, project implementation, and economic growth promotion strategies in relevant sectors.
The MoU also facilitates officials of two countries to site visits to cross-border or other relevant projects, and capacity building of partner countries.
India and US, the MoU said, share a vision of reducing poverty globally through sustainable economic growth.
Based on this shared vision, they intend to cooperate with the goal of advancing their mutual interests to strengthen regional integration and connectivity, particularly in the areas of energy, trade, and investment, it said.
Meanwhile, India and US have held extensive talks here to protect ocean ecosystems and promote sustainable development through the ‘blue economy’, one of the largest bilateral diplomatic engagements in the world specifically focused on oceans.
The two sides held wide-ranging discussions yesterday on areas of cooperation in sustainable marine resource management, including the blue economy, fisheries security, and joint exploration of exclusive economic zones.
The first-ever US-India Ocean Dialogue Preparatory Meeting is part of a decision made during the first US-India Strategic and Commercial Dialogue in 2015 to protect ocean ecosystems and promote sustainable development through the ‘blue economy’, a release said.
The American side was led by the Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Judith G Garber with Joint Secretary Munu Mahawar representing India.
Reflecting commitment to marine protection, US participation included representatives of the Department of State, US Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency and National Science Foundation, the release said.
Collectively, the US and India have approximately 17,000 miles of coastline, making this official dialogue one of the largest bilateral diplomatic engagements in the world that is specifically focused on oceans. (PTI)