India and Denmark collaborate to establish a Centre of Excellence in Eco-friendly Maritime Transportation
In Copenhagen, Denmark, the Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal held talks with Denmark's Minister of Industry, Business, and Financial Affairs Morten Bodskov. The meeting resulted in the formation of a Centre of Excellence in Green Shipping that'll be established in India.
This venture is a part of the Green Strategic Partnership, a collaboration between the two nations focusing on ecofriendly changes within India's maritime sector. An MoU was signed between the countries, intended to boost the quality and efficiency of maritime activities while encouraging the green transformation of India's maritime sector.
Sonowal espoused the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India's aim to become the fourth-largest economy. He sought Denmark's participation and investments in various transformative initiatives, where their knowledge of sustainable maritime practices would have a considerable impact. He expressed enthusiasm for establishing both domestic and international green shipping corridors with Denmark, with identifying suitable routes, developing supportive policy, and constructing infrastructure being vital.
The two ministers reaffirmed the Green Strategic Partnership, as mutually agreed upon by Modi and Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. They noted the significance of the bilateral MoU on maritime affairs signed in 2024, which includes establishing a Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Green Shipping.
Moreover, they discussed alignment with targets set out in the Government of India's Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, including India's aspirations to become a green shipping hub for the international maritime sector. A Letter of Intent (LOI) was signed between the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal, and the Maritime Museum of Denmark, Elsinore, focusing on collaboration in the preservation and valorization of maritime heritage.
Sonowal praised Denmark's partnership through the Joint Working Group on Shipping and the India-Nordic Summit. He emphasized the strong framework provided by the Joint Action Plan on the Green Strategic Partnership to move forward, with the maritime cooperation between the two nations based on mutual trust, shared values, and a common vision for a sustainable and future-ready maritime sector.
Both sides discussed ways to expand bilateral maritime relations, encompassing green shipping, decarbonization, maritime training and education, green fuel and technology collaboration, and ship recycling. The Indian Ports Association (IPA) was proposed to collaborate with the Port of Aarhus to develop smart port solutions, which could later be adapted and scaled across Indian ports to enhance operational efficiency and sustainability.
Digital transformation is a shared goal between the two nations. Denmark's application of technologies like blockchain for ship registries and automation in port operations is compatible with India's Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047. The CoE will contribute to the development of green corridors through a pre-feasibility study.
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- The Center of Excellence in Green Shipping, established as a part of the Green Strategic Partnership, aims to boost the quality and efficiency of green shipping, aligning with India's aim to become a green shipping hub and promoting technology collaboration.
- The joint venture between the two nations spotlights the significance of data-and-cloud-computing and technology in sustainable maritime practices, with Denmark's leading approach, particularly in blockchain technology for ship registries, being prospective for India's Maritime India Vision 2030 and Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
- As both nations pledge to combat climate-change, the Center of Excellence will focus on environmental-science, contributing to the development of green corridors through pre-feasibility studies and supporting the government's Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
- The collaboration between the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC), Lothal, and the Maritime Museum of Denmark, Elsinor, emphasizes the shared values of preserving and valorizing maritime heritage, contributing to education and culture.
- Businesses can expect increased opportunities in the maritime sector as Denmark makes investments in India's transformative initiatives, driving economic growth while promoting sustainable ecofriendly changes in conformity with India's vision to become a leading global economy.
