New Delhi, Sep 12 (NationPress) The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has reiterated India's dedication to bolstering global maritime governance and positioning itself as an essential ally in crafting a framework for safer, cleaner, and more secure seas during a global summit in Rome, as stated by an official on Friday.

At the 4th Coast Guard Global Summit (CGGS) held in Rome, Italy, from September 11-12, the ICG's delegation, which consisted of two members, was headed by Director General ICG Paramesh Sivamani.

In his presentation titled ‘Guardians Against the Blaze: ICG’s Tactical Response to Fire Emergencies,’ the DG highlighted India’s capabilities and constructive contributions to enhancing maritime safety and security, according to the official's statement.

The ICG also expressed its intention to pursue the Presidency of the 5th CGGS, which is scheduled to take place in India in 2027.

This summit, which saw participation from delegates across 115 countries and several international organizations, was co-chaired by Italy and Japan and focused on collective strategies for protecting the global ocean environment.

During the 4th iteration of the summit, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba (via video link) underscored the necessity of collaboration among Coast Guards in addressing marine pollution response, maritime search and rescue, and upholding maritime law.

The event served as a platform for exchanging best practices concerning Maritime Safety, Marine Environment Protection, emergency responses to pollution incidents, natural disasters, marine accidents, and Maritime Security.

Discussions also emphasized combating transnational maritime crimes through advanced technologies, capacity building, human resource development, and fortifying inter-regional and international cooperation under the shared ethos of being ‘Guardians at Sea.’

Established in 2017 by the Japan Coast Guard and the Nippon Foundation, the CGGS has developed into a crucial mechanism for dialogue and confidence-building.

In the previous month, the ICG engaged in discussions regarding cooperative endeavors related to marine pollution response and maritime search and rescue at the 8th High-Level Meeting (HLM) with the Sri Lanka Coast Guard (SLCG).

This meeting highlighted the mutual commitment of the ICG and SLCG to enhance operational coordination, share best practices, and foster regional maritime stability through continuous cooperation, as noted in an official statement.

The discussions marked another significant step in the strong and lasting maritime partnership between the two nations, reaffirming their commitment to work closely together.