Historic stitched ship INSV Kaundinya reaches Muscat, boosting India-Oman maritime ties and ancient shipbuilding heritage.
The arrival of the INSV Kaundinya at Port Sultan Qaboos in Muscat marks a transformative milestone in the commercial and cultural relationship between India and Oman. This voyage, originating from Porbandar, serves as a modern revival of a seafaring legacy that has facilitated trade across the Arabian Sea for over five millennia.
Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal met with the Omani Minister of Transport, Communications and Information Technology to discuss expanding bilateral maritime infrastructure. A primary focus of these discussions was the proposal for an India-Oman Green Shipping Corridor, intended to modernise trade routes through sustainable practices.
India extended invitations for Omani investment in several high-capacity infrastructure projects:
- Vadhavan Port (Maharashtra): A project requiring an estimated investment of $9 billion.
- Tuticorin Outer Harbour (Tamil Nadu): A development valued at $1.3 billion.
Furthermore, a $8.4 billion maritime package was outlined to bolster the global shipbuilding ecosystem through specialised industrial clusters and a dedicated development fund.
The INSV Kaundinya itself is a testament to ancient engineering, constructed using traditional stitched-plank techniques that eschew metal fastenings. By successfully navigating this vessel to Muscat, the expedition proved the viability of indigenous maritime craftsmanship in contemporary international relations.
This initiative coincides with the 70th anniversary of formal diplomatic ties, repositioning the ocean as a vital bridge for future economic expansion and industrial synergy between the two nations.
SOURCE – PIB
