India and Panama Discuss Enhanced Maritime Cooperation, MoU During High-Level Bilateral Meeting

The bilateral meeting was held between H.E. Mr. Javier Eduardo Martínez-Acha Vásquez, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Panama, and an Indian delegation led by Shri Shyam Jagannath, IAS, Director General of Maritime Administration.   The Panamanian delegation included H.E. Ms. Lizbeth Hernández Altafulla, Secretary General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; H.E. Mr. Alejandro Mendoza, Director of Foreign Policy; H.E. Mr. Alonso Correa, Ambassador of Panama to the Republic of India; Mr. Roberto Rodriguez, Consul General of Panama in Mumbai, along with other senior officials.   The Indian delegation comprised Shri Deependra Singh Bisen, Deputy Director General of Maritime Administration; Shri Vineet Kumar, IFS, Under Secretary (UNES Division), Ministry of External Affairs; and Shri P. L. Muthu, Assistant Director General of Maritime Administration.

During the discussions, both sides explored opportunities to deepen cooperation in the maritime domain, with particular emphasis on finalising a proposed MoU aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration between the two countries.

Key areas of discussion included promoting maritime trade and connectivity, enhancing knowledge exchange and capacity building, improving maritime safety and security, and ensuring the welfare and protection of seafarers.   Both delegations reiterated their shared commitment to expanding maritime partnerships and identifying new areas of mutual interest, reflecting the growing importance of India–Panama cooperation in supporting global maritime trade, maritime governance, and sustainable sectoral development.      The meeting marks another step towards reinforcing bilateral maritime engagement, with both countries expressing their intention to further strengthen cooperation through structured institutional mechanisms and collaborative initiatives.