The German Maritime Centre (DMZ) and the India Maritime Centre (IMC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen maritime cooperation between Germany and India.
The MoU establishes a framework for joint research and the organisation of joint events, creating new opportunities for knowledge exchange and closer collaboration between the maritime sectors of both countries.
Dr Matthias Catón, Managing Director of the DMZ, said that in its Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, India has set itself ambitious targets for its maritime sector. He said India aims to become one of the world’s top five shipbuilding nations by 2047 and to expand its nationwide port capacity to 10,000 MTPA, presenting attractive opportunities for German companies. Given China’s dominance, particularly in shipbuilding, he said diversification is also in Germany’s geopolitical interest.
The MoU was signed at SMM in Hamburg by Dr Reinhard Lüken (Chairman) and Dr Matthias Catón (Managing Director) for the German Maritime Centre, and by Devki Nandan Sharma (Chairman) and Arjun Ashok Chowgule (Director) for the India Maritime Centre.
The signing ceremony took place in the presence of Raakesh Natraj, Consul General of India in Hamburg; Vijay Kumar, Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Government of India; Dr Christoph Ploß, Member of the German Federal Parliament and Coordinator of the Federal Government for Maritime Business and Tourism; and Dr Melanie Leonhard, Senator for Economy, Labour and Innovation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg.
The DMZ and the IMC look forward to taking the next steps in their partnership.
