GOA MARITIME SYMPOSIUM- 2022

By PIB Delhi

The fourth edition of the biennial Goa Maritime Symposium was conducted successfully by the Indian Navy at Goa from 31 October to 01 November 2022.

Coming out of the shadows of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Indian Navy was delighted to witness the physical participation of overseas delegates from all 12 invitees. Representatives from Navies and Maritime Agencies from 12 Friendly Foreign Indian Ocean littoral countries, which included Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand, besides India, attended the Symposium, conducted by the Naval War College, Goa.

Commodore Nitin Kapoor, Deputy Commandant, Naval War College delivered the welcome address, and the Symposium was formally inaugurated by Rear Admiral Rajesh Dhankhar, NM, Commandant, Naval War College.

Over the two days of the Symposium, the participants deliberated upon several maritime security aspects of contemporary relevance. The theme for GMS-22 was ‘Maritime Security Challenges in the Indian Ocean Region: Converting Common Maritime Priorities into Collaborative Mitigation Frameworks’. Through four panel discussions with dedicated sub-themes, the participants were successful in garnering a clear vision for an outcome-oriented agenda for the Goa Maritime Conclave, which would be hosted by the Indian Navy in 2023.

Commodore Anil Jaggi, Commodore (Foreign Cooperation), in his closing address, thanked all participants for their enthusiastic participation and valuable contribution during the Goa Maritime Symposium-22.

The participants also availed the opportunity to visit Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) on 01 November 2022 to witness, first hand, the indigenous ship-building capabilities of Indian Shipyards. The delegates visited Indian Naval Ship Pralay, a Guided Missile Vessel, constructed by the GSL in 2002, and were also shown the construction and repair areas, including the Ship Lift facility.

India has consistently advocated the concept of ‘Collective Responsibility’ for maritime security in the Indian Ocean Region. The Goa Maritime Symposium and the Goa Maritime Conclave, conducted by the Indian Navy in alternating years, is a manifestation of such efforts.

Guided by the vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region), the Indian Navy looks forward to hosting the Goa Maritime Conclave in the year 2023.