Indian VP Dhankar Lauds Growth of the Maritime Sector

Padmesh Prabhune

The Vice President of India, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar lauded the growth of the Indian maritime sector saying, “India’s maritime strength is quintessential for our economic and strategic upsurge.”

Addressing a gathering after the launch of Mahendragiri – the last of the seven warships of the Nilgiri-class stealth frigates under Project 17A in Mumbai, Shri Dhankhar described it as “an apt testament to the incredible progress our nation has made in building a self-reliant naval force”.

Present at the function were Shri Ramesh Bais, the Governor of Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Shinde, the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Devendra Fadnavis, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Ajit Pawar, the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Admiral R. Hari Kumar, Chief of Naval Staff, Shri Sanjeev Singhal, CMD, MDL, and other eminent dignitaries as well.

The Vice-President stressed that India had always been a seafaring nation, being home to the earliest docks in the world such as Lothal. He further highlighted that “Over 90% of India’s trade by volume and over 68% by value, moves through maritime routes at present and by 2047 Bharat will surely emerge as a global leader and a stabilizing force.” Adding, that women are equally participating into all branches, across cadres becoming a successful seafarer as well.

The Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar emphasized that India’s economic growth and global ascendancy necessitates protecting nation’s maritime interests and shoulder additional responsibilities, particularly in the current geo-political and security situation that prevails in the Indian Ocean region.

Amidst the varied challenges faced in the Indian Ocean Region encompassing concerns like piracy, smuggling of narcotics, human trafficking, illegal migration and natural disasters, the Vice-President underlined the courage, competence and commitment of the overall seafaring community along with the Indian navy. Further to this he underlined the country’s role as the net security provider in the Indo-Pacific region, and also described India as “An important global player to secure and ensure a peaceful, Rule-Based Maritime Regime, which is facing many challenges at the moment.”

-Marex Media