New Delhi : The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES), Government of India, in collaboration with the Embassy of France and the Embassy of Costa Rica in India, hosted the “Second Blue Talks” at Prithvi Bhawan, Lodhi Road, New Delhi. This event aimed to serve as a milestone in the lead-up to the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3), which will be held in Nice, France, from June 09-13, 2025.
Building upon the success of the first Blue Talks held in February 2024, the second meeting convened leading scientists, policymakers, global stakeholders, and representatives from government, academia, industry, and civil society. The forum aimed to accelerate action and galvanize concrete commitments towards the conservation and sustainable use of our oceans, directly aligning with the UNOC3 theme.
The event was chaired by M. Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, and co-chaired by H.E. Néstor Baltodano Vargas, Ambassador of Costa Rica to India and Damien Syed, Deputy Head of Mission, French Embassy.Ravichandran, Secretary, MoES, emphasized that, “To truly achieve SDG 14 and the goals of the UN Ocean Decade, we must prioritise comprehensive ocean resource mapping, develop cutting-edge technologies, implement policy interventions, and invest in building robust human capital for our marine future.” Adding to this, H.E. Mr. Nestor Baltodano Vargas, Ambassador of Costa Rica, mentioned, “this event will significantly strengthen collaboration between our nations, driving concrete action towards SDG 14”
At the event, MoES launched a white paper titled “Transforming India’s Blue Economy: Investment, Innovation and Sustainable Growth” in collaboration with its strategic knowledge partner. As the nodal agency for the implementation of the Blue Economy in India, MoES, has been actively working towards enhancing the visibility and effective implementation of blue economy initiatives across the nation. This white paper builds upon these efforts by providing a consolidated framework that aligns government actions, fosters cross-sectoral synergies, and promotes greater investment to unlock the vast potential of India’s ocean resources for sustainable and economic development.
The report released at the event underscores the critical role of India's vast marine resources, including its extensive coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone, as a vital engine for national progress. It highlights the collaborative efforts of 25 ministries, alongside coastal state and union territory initiatives, in driving sustainable growth across various ocean-related sectors. The report builds upon India's G20 Presidency commitments and the Chennai High-Level Principles for a Sustainable and Resilient Blue Economy, further solidifying its importance within the Viksit Bharat vision for 2047.