NEW DELHI (India CSR): Following its global launch at the 2025 UN Ocean Conference in Nice, France, the Ocean Centres initiative officially begins in India in an event convened by the UN Global Compact Network India. The event in New Delhi brings together leaders from a diverse range of organisations committed to advancing a safe and sustainable ocean economy, including businesses and industries, government agencies, regulatory bodies, financial institutions, trade unions, NGOs, academic and research institutions, as well as community-led organisations.
Global Initiative Background
The Ocean Centres is a long-term initiative hosted by the UN Global Compact and supported by the Lloyd’s Register Foundation. It has been set up in seven countries – Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia and the Philippines. Each centre, strategically located to address regional safety challenges, will play a vital role in fostering collaboration between governments, industry leaders, and maritime communities. The initiative will foster locally led solutions to the challenges that are to be found in each of the regions. The Ocean Centres focus on four key action areas: shipping and ports, fishing and aquaculture, offshore renewables, and finance and investment – each addressing safety and sustainability across emerging ocean sectors. These priorities were shaped by national insights and stakeholder input to ensure local relevance and global impact. Building on this, they aim to promote responsible business practices in ocean-based economies and influence the creation of new standards and policies.
Dignitaries and Discussions
The Ocean Centres India launch event aims to foster dialogue across key sectors, including shipping, ports, offshore, fishing and finance. Dr. M. Ravichandran, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, launches Ocean Centre India at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. The launch event was also graced by Dr. Vishwapati Trivedi, Former Secretary, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, and Shri H.N. Aswath, Development Adviser, Ministry of Ports Shipping and Waterways among other dignitaries. The event featuredtwo high-level panels covering the aspects of co-creating a safe and sustainable ocean economy, and putting safety at the heart of sustainability.
Panel Key Highlights
Dr. Ravichandran suggested a five pronged agenda for a safe and sustainable ocean economy focusing on the Food, Water, energy, health and security. Dagmara Karbowska, Global Programme Manager, Lloyd Register Foundation emphasised on risk identification and importance of safety in maritime sector. Ratnesh Jha, Executive Director, UN Global Compact network India while welcoming the delegates. Dr. Ravi Raj Atrey shared background of the Ocean Centres. Two panels have deliberations from Arnab Mandal, Lead Strategy and Impact, Tata Trusts, Bharti Birla, Enterprise Development Specialist, International Labour Organisation (ILO), R. K. Singh,Chief General Manager, Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), Prof. Vimlesh Pant, Professor, Centre for Atmospheric Science, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Archana Chatterjee, Programme Manager, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), India, Santanu Basu, Project Director (HCL-Harit), HCL Foundation, Dr. Tarun Kumar Singh, Asst. Commissioner, Fisheries, Dept. of Fisheries, Govt. of India, Uday Chaitanya Ganivada, Country Manager, DNV MES India Pvt. Ltd., Mohana Priya Selvamani, Country Head – India, Ocean Energy Pathway, Divya Hegde, Board Trustee, Baeru Collective, N.M. Prusty, Vice Chair, Coalition for Food & Nutrition Safety, Chinuu Kwatra, Secretary, Khushiyan Foundation, Deep Chandra Papnoi, Dy. Director, UN Global Compact Network India, Raj Pandey, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, CF Coastal Project, UNDP, and Anuja Ahuja, Environment Specialist, World Bank.
The Ocean Centres India urge the stakeholders to make “Safety at the Heart of Sustainability” a movement in Indian sustainability / ESG landscape beginning with he Maritime sector.
(India CSR)
