India, S. Africa to sign maritime agreement

New Delhi, Mar 21 (UNI) Union Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister T R Baalu, leading a high-level delegation of his ministry, today left for South Africa to sign the Agreement on Merchant Shipping and other maritime transport related matters between the two countries.

The Maritime Shipping Agreement aims at increasing cooperation between India and South Africa in the field of shipping and to promote development of contacts between shipping organisations and enterprises of the two countries.

A Maritime Liaison Committee would be set up under the Agreement for promoting merchant shipping and other maritime transport-related matters between India and South Africa.

The agreement provides for facilitating Indian companies to establish joint ventures in the field of maritime transportation, ship building and repairs and would facilitate exchange of information for accelerating the flow of commercial goods at sea ports, a ministry spokesman said.

Assistance to vessels in distress in the search and rescue operations of the two countries also forms an integral part of the agreement.

Mr Baalu will also visit the major ports of Cape Town and Durban during his stay in South Africa.

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