Blue Economy: Examining the program from the past few months reveals significant closeness in the relationship between India and Italy. One factor contributing to this is Italy’s increasing emphasis on the blue and space economy. The recently concluded Blue and Space Economy Conference at Indira Dock in Mumbai has created new opportunities for collaboration between India and Italy.
The conference included attendees from government, institutions, and companies from the two nations. It was opened by the Italian Ambassador to India, Antonio Bartoli. India’s Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, has discussed India’s successes in the space sector and the potential of the Blue Economy.
What does the Blue Economy mean?
Blue Economy refers to the sustainable and systematic utilization of marine resources. It emphasizes the advancement of industries like fisheries, offshore energy, marine biotechnology, and maritime transportation. At the same time, the space economy fosters economic endeavors linked to space technology and exploration. Italy initiated its first satellite, San Marco-1, in 1964, making it the third nation to achieve this, stated Italian Enterprise Minister Adolfo Urso. Currently, Italy possesses considerable technological, industrial, and human resource strengths in the space economy.
What makes India unique for Italy?
During the initial panel of the conference titled ‘Space: Bilateral Cooperation and Regional Footprint’, Enrico Savio, General Manager of Leonardo International, praised India’s accomplishments in space.
Savio highlighted India’s active role in the space industry and the robustness of its industrial ecosystem as the primary foundation of the partnership. The session called “Selling into the Blue Economy: Navigating Sustainable and Secure Seas” addressed safety and stability in the maritime sector. Leonardo’s Senior Vice President Angelo Checcini stated that his company focuses on technical collaboration with Indian partners to improve stability and security in the maritime sector.
What advantages will arise from India collaborating with Italy?
Italy and India play significant geopolitical and economic roles in their individual regions. Italy operates in the Mediterranean area, while India is engaged in the Indo-Pacific region. This collaboration will enhance the international standing of both nations. This collaboration will also be beneficial in addressing issues such as maritime security, counter-terrorism, and piracy in the Indian Ocean.
