India-Japan Maritime Relation
Kartavya Desk Staff
Syllabus: International Relations
Source: NDTV
Context: India and Japan have held high-level bilateral discussions to deepen cooperation in maritime affairs, including port digitisation, shipbuilding, and the employment of Indian seafarers, marking a new phase in strategic maritime collaboration.
Key Highlight about India-Japan Maritime Relation:
• Investment and Infrastructure: Japan showed interest in investing in Indian shipyards and port infrastructure, such as Imabari Shipbuilding’s proposed greenfield project in Andhra Pradesh.
• Port Digitisation: Agreement on enhancing digital technologies in port operations to improve efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
• Smart Islands Development: Japan to assist India in converting Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep into smart, green islands using renewable energy and disaster-resilient systems.
• Employment and Training: Japan expressed interest in employing skilled Indian seafarers; India has over 1.54 lakh trained personnel available.
• R&D and Technology Transfer: Collaboration in next-gen ship design, sustainable maritime tech, and increased cooperation in research through Indian agencies and Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL).
Over view of India-Japan Relations:
• Strategic Partnership: Both nations share the Indo-Pacific vision (Free and Open Indo-Pacific and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative), work under the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and Supply Chain Resilience Initiative frameworks to counter China’s dominance in the region.
• Economic Engagement: Bilateral trade was United States Dollar 21.96 billion in Financial Year 2022–23; target of five trillion-yen (Rs 3.2 lakh crore) investment by 2027.
• Infrastructure Development: Joint ventures in Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train and North-East development align with Japan’s Partnership for Quality Infrastructure model.
• Energy and Technology Collaboration: Clean Energy Partnership (2022), civil nuclear agreement (2017), and Lunar Polar Exploration Mission with Indian Space Research Organisation and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency.
• People-to-People Ties: Programmes like Technical Intern Training Programme and Specified Skilled Worker help India supply skilled manpower to Japan’s aging economy.
Challenges in Bilateral Ties:
• Trade Imbalance: Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement has not yielded expected growth and India’s exports remain low due to non-tariff barriers and strict standards.
• Foreign Direct Investment Limitations: Japan’s total Foreign Direct Investment in India is still a small share of its global investment footprint.
• Geopolitical Divergences: Different approaches to China and Russia; Japan aligns more with United States strategy while India maintains strategic autonomy.
• Project Delays: High-speed rail and Asia-Africa Growth Corridor have faced slow implementation due to procedural bottlenecks.
Significance of the Maritime Agreement:
• Strategic Leverage: Enhances maritime security, strengthens port connectivity, and supports India’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
• Green Shipping Push: Aligns with India’s Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 for carbon-neutral logistics.
• Employment Boost: Leverages India’s large seafaring workforce and creates new skilled job avenues.
• Innovation and Technology Transfer: Fosters sustainable maritime innovation through Japanese technology and research and development partnerships.
Conclusion:
India-Japan maritime cooperation represents a convergence of economic, strategic, and environmental interests. As both nations navigate regional challenges, this partnership can serve as a model for Indo-Pacific collaboration. Strengthening maritime ties will be pivotal for a resilient and secure maritime future.
• ‘The time has come for India and Japan to build a strong contemporary relationship, one involving global and strategic partnership that will have a great significance for Asia and the world as a whole.’ Comment. (2019)