Parliamentary panel to hear views of Shipping Ministry on impact of West Asia crisis on India's maritime trade
New Delhi, May 25
Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism, and Culture, chaired by Janata Dal leader Sanjay Kumar Jha, will meet on Monday.
It will hear views of Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, on the subject 'Implications of the West Asia Crisis on India's Maritime Trade, Shipping Infrastructure and Seafarer Safety.'
Representatives from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Petroleum will also attend the meeting.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday said that India is among the few countries in the world with strong relations and real interests in the Gulf and that it wants peace and stability in the region.
Addressing a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Jaishankar said, "India today is one of the very few countries that has very strong relations with the United States, with Israel, with Iran, and with the Gulf countries. We have real interests there. For us, the challenge is how to maintain all these relationships, protect our equities, and advance our interests. We don't look at it as a zero-sum game. Having said that, there are general principles: we want peace and stability in the region, the welfare of our diaspora is crucial, and as a big importer of energy, keeping prices down for global growth is vital."
He reiterated India's strong interest in safe and unimpeded maritime commerce through the region and added, "We want energy markets not to be distorted or constrained because it has a cost implication for our people."
He added that India's priorities in the region included peace, stability, protection of the Indian diaspora and secure maritime trade routes.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Jaishankar's balancing act is impressive – US, Israel, Iran, Gulf all at once. But at the end of the day, it's our sailors and trade routes that suffer. Shipping costs are already up. Hoping the panel focuses on seafarer safety too. 🇮🇳
Finally some serious discussion! We depend so much on the Gulf for oil and trade, but our ports are not ready for any major disruption. The committee should also look at expanding domestic shipping capacity and building more coastal economic zones.
I hope they don't just talk and do nothing. The West Asia crisis has been going on for months – our shipping costs have skyrocketed and small exporters are struggling. Need concrete action, not just meetings. 🤷♀️
Good to see MEA and Commerce also involved. This isn't just a shipping issue – it's about energy security and our diaspora's safety. Jaishankar's point about not seeing it as a zero-sum game is mature diplomacy. Let's hope stability returns soon.
As someone from a coastal city, I feel this directly. Our fishermen and seafarers are nervous. Also, fuel prices going up affects everyone's budget. Parliamentarians better come up with real solutions like insurance guarantees for ships in war zones.
M We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.