Search Result for : Indian Ocean Region

India, France sign 14 agreements; commit to strengthen strategic ties

The Dollar Business Bureau Deepening the strategic ties between the two nations, India and France on Saturday signed 14 agreements in key areas of defence, nuclear energy, security, and protection of classified information besides resolving to deepen cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. The two countries also sealed business deals worth $16 billion.  The pacts were signed after extensive discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron, who is on a state-visit to India from 10 to 12 March, 2018.  The 14 pacts include technical cooperation in the field of Railways, environment, education, urban development, renewable energy, defence and intelligence sharing. In addition, the two leaders signed a joint vision for space cooperation that paves the way for the two nations to embark on ...

US recognises India as major defence partner: US Def Secretary

The Dollar Business Bureau Defence Secretary James Mattis has said that the United States recognises India as a key defence partner partially out of respect for the country’s crucial role in keeping stability in Indian Ocean region. The US is looking for new ways for addressing the new challenges from the maritime security to the rising risks posed with spreading terrorism in the Southeast Asian region, the Defence Secretary said while speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue. “For example, we recognise India, the most populous democracy in the world, as a major defence partner. We did so in part out of respect for India’s indispensable role in maintaining stability in the Indian Ocean region,” he said. Mattis asked all the nations to come forward to ...

US likely to make sale of Guardian drones to India: officials

PTI The US is likely to make a positive decision on India's request for state-of-the art unarmed Guardian drones for maritime surveillance, especially in the Indian Ocean. The move comes after India was designated a major defence partner of the US in June. Within weeks of that designation, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi met US President Barack Obama, at the White House in early June, the Indian Navy had sent an official letter of request (LoR) in February to Department of Defense towards purchase of 22 high-tech multi-mission Predator Guardian UAVs. This was the first major request of arms sale purchase by India after Obama designated New Delhi as a major Strategic Defence partner. The US government has not made a ...

India mulls defence equipment exports to engage with IOR nations

The Dollar Business Bureau In a move to overcome the supposed trade-related challenges in the Indian Ocean, India sought a common naval platform in Indian Ocean Region (IOR), with a stronger cooperation from the Indian Ocean countries. The Union Defence Minister, Manohar Parrikar, stressed on need for a ‘common naval platform’ for India and IOR countries, while speaking at the closing ceremony of an international conference on 'India & the Indian Ocean: Renewing the Maritime Trade & Civilizational Linkages'. The Minister called upon the Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS) and Research & Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), joint organizers of the conference, to make a note of ‘creating a common navy platform for Indian Ocean countries,’ which ...

India, Mauritius ink key pacts for bilateral cooperation

The Dollar Business Bureau Prime Minister, Narendra Modi meeting the President of Mauritius, Mr. Rajkeswur Purryag. Image Source: @narendramodi   The Governments of India and Mauritius on Wednesday underwent key agreements and signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in various issues aimed at strengthening the bilateral relation, especially in terms of maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). In a move towards achieving stronger infrastructure cooperation, both the sides signed a MoU for setting up and upgradation of infrastructure for improving sea and air connectivity at Agalega Island, the outer island of Mauritius. The MoU for infrastructure cooperation was also expected to enhance the capabilities of the Mauritian Defence Forces in safeguarding their interests in the outer island. Under ...

India for maritime, economic ties with IOR nations

The Dollar Business Bureau The Government of India, according to an official release, has proposed to establish cross cultural linkages and revive historic maritime cultural and economic ties with 39 Indian Ocean countries.  According to the Union Minister of State for Culture, Tourism & Civil Aviation, Mahesh Sharma, the 39 countries belonging to Indian Ocean Region (IOR) include Bangladesh, Bahrain, China, Cambodia Cambodia, Iraq, Egypt, Pakistan, Mauritius, Singapore, Yemen, Thailand, South Africa, Philippines, among others. To this effect, an action plan has also been formulated by the Government for achieving a World Heritage transnational nomination for ‘Indian Ocean Maritime Routes’. The plan also aims at a joint initiative by the Indian government and the member states in the group, to implement ...

India keen on naval exports to nations in the IOR

Sai Nikesh | The Dollar Business In a move to expand its presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), the Government of India is keen on supporting maritime infrastructure of its friendly countries in the region, by pushing naval exports. The Indian government is all set to commission it’s first-ever export warship-Barracuda, to Mauritius on March 12, 2015, says a report from the Indian Defence & Research Wing (IDRW). Besides this, the Indian government has already cleared exports of 13 other warships to Mauritius and these are expected to be supplied in the coming year. The report further says that the government is also willing to extend a similar maritime support to other small countries in the region, so as ...