“Whoever controls the Indian Ocean dominates Asia. This ocean is the key to the seven seas in the 21st century, the destiny of the world will be decided in these waters” was the prophecy made over a century ago which has become a reality today. In the battle for supremacy, Indian Ocean has been witnessing a good number of contenders staking claim over its waters in the recent past. As a strategically located nation and an ocean named after it, India is now gearing up to take an active stance in what is considered its backyard. Indian Ocean is the world’s third largest ocean and carries half of world’s container ships, one third of the world’s bulk cargo traffic and two thirds of the world’s oil shipments. Some of the world’s most important trade routes pass through its waters. But once declared a Zone of Peace, the security and economic implications of the power dynamics between the nations of the Indian Ocean Region have the capability to not just impact the littoral states but the whole of Asia-Pacific region.

‘Indian Ocean diplomacy’ or ‘Blue Ocean Diplomacy’ gained momentum with the visit of the current Indian Prime Minister to Sri Lanka and the ‘Small Island Developing States’ (SIDS) of Seychelles, Mauritius in the years 2015. With the major sea lines of communications passing through the Indian Ocean and the presence of key choke points in it, veteran and emerging world powers have been showing keen interest in making their presence felt in the ‘Indian Ocean Region’ (IOR), especially in the last decade or so. The concept of ‘Maritime Silk Road’, through the ‘String of Pearls’ as proposed through the ‘One Belt One Road’ (OBOR) of China is a matter of serious concern, as the state has the notoriety of being expansionist and revisionist both. The presence of US Navy’s 7th Fleet in the Bay of Bengal during the 1971 Indo-Pak war and its naval base of Diego Garcia in ‘British Indian Ocean Territory’ (BIOT) also highlighted the significance of the IOR. Despite the facts, India needs to actively pursue Blue Ocean Diplomacy in order to remain the biggest stakeholder in the security and economic architecture of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Blue Ocean Diplomacy essentially comprises imbibing the core values of the Blue Ocean Strategy towards creating a Blue Economy. Initially put forth as a marketing management concept, but is lately viewed as a corporate strategy, Blue Ocean Strategy advocates the creation of uncontested market space by creating and capturing new demand, thus making the competition totally irrelevant. Whereas the Red Ocean Strategy competes in existing market space and tries to beat the competition by exploiting the existing demand. China has been quite clearly trying to follow the Red Ocean Strategy, whereas with the revival of the regional forum of ‘Indian Ocean Rim Association’ (IORA), India has a definite advantage of adopting the Blue Ocean Strategy wherein it’s a win-win situation for all the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region. Value innovation as a key underpinning of the Blue Ocean Strategy would mean pursuit of differentiation and low cost simultaneously

It was Indian Ocean Rim Association’s Jakarta Concord which laid the ground map for a Blue Economy for IOR littoral states. Blue Economy, as an idea was first put forth by Gunter Pauli. There are various working definitions of Blue Economy such as that in IORA’s Mauritius Declaration on Blue Economy, as well as advocated by Indian think tanks such as ‘National Maritime Foundation’ and ‘Research and Information System for Developing Countries’ have been in use. According to Blue Economy Vision 2025 report by FICCI, “The Blue Economy encompasses a wide range of economic activities pertaining to sustainable development of resources and assets in the oceans, related rivers, water bodies and coastal regions – in a manner that ensures equity, inclusion, innovation and modern technology. Subtly distinguishable from the “ocean economy” in terms of nuance and emphasis, the Blue Economy is a newer and more contemporary term, popular with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) as well as international organisations, media, experts and governments in a growing number of countries.” In fact, ‘Goal 14’ of United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals resonates with the basic tenets of blue economy which is, “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development.”

Several noteworthy initiatives have been taken by India in the recent past in the direction of Blue Ocean diplomacy. Indian Navy’s ‘Look West Maritime Diplomacy’, ‘Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation’ between India, Sri Lanka and Maldives and ‘Project Mausam’ are to name a few. There are a few core areas which need to be carefully worked at so as to be able to move swiftly towards a Blue Economy which are as follows:

1. In 2015, Seychelles became one of the first countries in the world to establish a Blue Economy Department under the Ministry of Finance. It also has initiated the creation of a Blue Economy Research Institute. Way back in 2012, European Union had announced its Blue Growth Strategy for sustainable development of marine and maritime sectors. Around the same time, China released its 12th Five Year Development Plan for National Marine Economy realising the significance of ocean economy. In view of the same, it becomes pertinent for India to chalk and spell out its National Blue Economy Strategy at the earliest and subsequently an action plan, for SAGAR already has provided the vision.

2. In view of Jakarta Concord, out of the six priority areas, it would be advantageous for India to formulate a politico-legal framework with institutional mechanism for marine terrorism and piracy, which would also greatly benefit the island nations of the Indian Ocean region.

3. There is an urgent need for a cultural framework to leverage the coastal and marine tourism and be able to connect to IOR nations thus amalgamating Project Mausam. For instance, India needs to well- promote it’s island Union Territories of Andaman and Nicobar, and Lakshadweep and link it with the tourism economy of South-East Asian countries which would further India’s soft power.

4. Institutional mechanisms towards domain cooperation in disaster response, marine academic and research areas with members of Indian Ocean Rim Association need to be put in place for achieving the Blue Economy.

5. Greater emphasis on building Indian ports as transhipment hub through Sagarmala Project and restructuring Indian shipbuilding industry is the need of the hour.

6. Sectoral integration with policy emphasis of ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’, ‘Skill India’ could be worked out towards leveraging the marine resources with creation of infrastructure, availability of skilled manpower with respect to India’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Since each Small Island Developing State in the Indian Ocean Region, has a different level of strength, capabilities, expectations and needs, India needs to work at strengthening the relationship through a mutually beneficial association with each littoral state through bilateral and multilateral arrangements for the pursuit of Blue Economy through adopting Blue Ocean Strategy. This, in essence, would strengthen India’s position to be able to counter China’s growing maritime ambitions. Further, it would help India in becoming a true representative of the interest of the Indian Ocean Littoral States and emerge as strong maritime power.

References

References

1. http://thediplomat.com/2015/03/narendramodis-active-indian-ocean-diplomacy/

2. http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/colu mns/the-blue-economy-diplomats-ocean-andwater-body-policy/

3. https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelatio n/IORARC.pdf

4. https://www.thenational.ae/business/seychelles-the-world-s-first-blue-economy-enters-theinvestment-spotlight-1.86837

5. http://www.chinabriefing.com/news/2013/02/01/chinareleases-12th-five-year-plan-for-themarine-economy.html

6. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/world/2017- 06/08/content_29665712.htm

7. http://niti.gov.in/writereaddata/files/document _publication/Indian%20Ocean%20Region_v 6%281%29.pdf

8.http://iora.net/media/158684/statement_from_seychelles.pdf

9. http://www.iora.net/about-us/background.aspx

10. http://ignca.nic.in/mausam.htm

11. http://www.icwa.in/pdfs/IB/2014/IORASummitMeetingIB04052017.pdf

12. http://www.un.org/documents/ga/res/34/a34res80.pdf

13. http://www.idsa.in/idsacomments/trilateral-maritime-security-cooperation-india-sri-lankamaldives_asaberwal_220316

14. http://cimsec.org/net-security-provider-defined-analysis-indias-new-maritime-strategy-2015/20203

15. W. Chan Kim and Renee Mauborgne (2005) Blue Ocean Strategy. Harvard Business Review Press.

16. Gunter Pauli (2010) The Blue Economy: 10 years – 100 innovations – 100 million jobs. Paradigm Publications

17. IORA Mauritius Declaration on Blue Economy 2015

18. Jakarta Concord, Indian Ocean Rim Association 2017

19. Blue Economy Vision 2025 Knowledge Paper FICCI 2017