India and Russia have agreed to provide training for Indian seafarers in Polar and Arctic waters at the Russian Maritime Training Institute in Vladivostok, which is equipped with advanced simulators.

The two countries are also discussing a wide range of maritime cooperation issues, including the possibility of opening a new transport corridor between Vladivostok (Russia) and Chennai (India), Sarbananda Sonowal, India's Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said on Thursday.

This corridor [sea route] will be a part of the Eastern Maritime Corridor (EMC) and the Northern Sea Route (NSR) for cost-effective access to export-import trade.

The Indian minister, while speaking at the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue in New Delhi on Thursday, added that India's vision was to make Iran's Chabahar port- which India is partially constructing- an important maritime trade facility. He added that India was aiming at making the port a transit hub under the international North-South transport corridor.

The minister also spoke on the Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV 2030) which specified key targets to be achieved by a variety of maritime stakeholders within and beyond the government.

For instance, while shipping-related initiatives focus on sectors related to shipbuilding, ship recycling and ship repair, they also remain true to the larger goal of growing India's global stature as a maritime power, he stated.

In addition, the Indian minister said that a particular focus would be on expanding the country's network of inland waterways as it provides an impetus for regional partnerships.

Source: India Shipping News

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