India and France have bilaterally decided to create a pathway towards the blue economy and ocean governance. They will scientifically cooperate on marine science and technology and exchange students and researchers who will be monitoring, protecting, and ensuring sustainable use of marine biodiversity.
The agreement was signed during the three-day visit to France of the Indian External Minister S. Jaishankar. The scientific department of the Embassy of France in India and the Ministry of Earth Sciences of India will be in constant contact to materialise the discussions of the knowledge summit.
AlsoRead:International Education Market Estimated to Reach $433bn by 2030
The French Embassy will sponsor 5 scholarships in marine sciences and the Indian administration will look after its quick implementation.
Both countries pledged to strive towards the conservation of the ocean and contribute to scientific knowledge. MEA, in its statement, ensured that the ocean remains a free area of trade and a common ground for all. They will call for private funding to spur the project.
The focus of the agreement will be to combat marine pollution, studies of environmental impact on marine life, physical and spatial oceanography, mapping of genetic biodiversity, and preservation of the marine ecosystem. The MEA also suggested studying the causes that aggravate the impact on the marine environment, namely pollution, ocean acidification, and unwelcome weather condition.
France is planning to send a team of scientists to interact with the oceanographic institutes of India including the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management.
Also Read:Number of Indian Students Applying to Study Abroad Growing
GOAT (Goa Atlantic cooperation in Marine Science and Technology), a scientific and university programme, which was signed at Brest in January 2020, has been launched successfully. India and France will support GOAT and ease the visa process to encourage students and researchers' mobility in the blue economy sector.
Source: The Economic Times
Planning to Study Abroad? Get FREE Advice from Our Experts!