India keen to contribute towards development of Indonesian Navy: Hamid Ansari

Ashok Dixit

Jakarta, Nov. 2 (ANI): Stressing on the importance of Maritime security, Vice-President Hamid Ansari on Monday said that India is keen to contribute towards capacity building and development of the Indonesian Navy.

The Vice-President also said that there is tremendous potential for enhancing defence ties between India and Indonesia.

"Indonesia has played host to ships of the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard on several occasions in recent years. We are also happy that Indonesian ships are making more frequent visits to the Indian ports. Our coordinated patrols between Belawan and the Andaman Islands which are going on for 13 years, have been enhanced to the level of joint exercises," Vice-President Ansari said in his address here.

"The Indian Navy and Coast Guard has a high regard for the Indonesian Navy and the new emerging Coast Guard and we hope to continue this cooperation through technical, human resource development, capacity building and contributing to the development of Indonesian capacities both physical and human," he added.

He said that India is ready to support technology transfer and joint ventures for building medium-size vessels to contribute to the Maritime Policy of Indonesia.

"We are ready to support through hydrographic surveys and institutionalized cooperation," he added.

Stating that India and Indonesia had robust trade links in the ancient period, the Vice-President said, "This trade was mutually profitable and brought prosperity and peace to the region.

"Today, as India and Indonesia stand together- two vibrant, youthful democracies with large emerging economies, time has come perhaps to reclaim our past maritime heritage and synergise the rising aspirations of our populations to strengthen and deepen our strategic relations for a new era of peace and prosperity across the Indian and Pacific oceans," he added.

The Vice-President will depart for Bali on Tuesday.

Vice President Ansari arrived here for his five-day two-nation official visit to Indonesia and Brunei on Sunday

Indonesia is the first stopover for the Vice President, who is there at the invitation of his Indonesian counterpart Jusuf Kalla.