INS Kesari delivers 500 tonnes of food aid to Mozambique under Mission Sagar

Indian Naval Ship Kesari entered the Port of Maputo, Mozambique, as part of yet another deployment undertaken under Mission SAGAR.

Around 500 tonnes of food aid has been shipped by INS Kesari to support the efforts of the government of Mozambique to cope with the ongoing drought and concurrent challenges of the pandemic.

This is the eighth deployment under ‘Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR)’. 

These deployments were conducted in solidarity with India’s extended maritime neighbourhood. 

Mission SAGAR

• Mission SAGAR is a major milestone in India’s engagement with the countries in the Indian Ocean Region, in line with ‘SAGAR — Security and Growth for All in the Region’.

• Launched on May 10, 2020, Mission SAGAR is India’s initiative to deliver COVID-19 related assistance to the countries in the Indian Ocean Region. 

• Mission SAGAR is in line with India’s role as the first responder in the region and builds on the excellent relations existing between these countries to battle the COVID-19 pandemic.

• As part of this Mission, INS Kesari successively visited Maldives, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles during May-June 2020 to deliver assistance to our maritime neighbors in dealing with the COVID crisis. 

• India’s humanitarian assistance included supplies of essential food items, medicines, Ayurvedic medicines and deployment of medical assistance teams to Mauritius and Comoros.

• As part of Mission SAGAR-II, Indian Naval Ship Airavat delivered food aid to Sudan, South Sudan, Djibouti and Eritrea.

•  Since May 2020, the Indian Navy has deployed ships to 15 friendly foreign countries under SAGAR missions.  

What is SAGAR policy?

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi introduced the concept of SAGAR — ‘Security and Growth for All in the Region’ during his visit to Mauritius in March 2015.

• It is a high-level articulation of India’s vision for the Indian Ocean. SAGAR has distinct but inter-related elements and underscores India’s engagement in the Indian Ocean. 

• The principles enshrined in SAGAR provide a coherent framework to address some of the challenges related to economic revival, connectivity, security, culture and identity. 

• During his address in Maldives Parliament in June 2019, Modi said SAGAR is also a blueprint for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.  

• Under the broad vision of SAGAR, relations have been augmented with partners in the region in defence and security, development partnership, training and capacity building. The Indian Ocean Region received priority in COVID assistance.

Key features of SAGAR:

• Enhancing capacities to safeguard land and maritime territories and interests. 

• Deepening economic and security cooperation in the littoral.

• Promoting collective action to deal with natural disasters and maritime threats like piracy, terrorism and emergent non-state actors.

• Working towards sustainable regional development through enhanced collaboration.

• Engaging with countries beyond shores with the aim of building greater trust and promoting respect for maritime rules, norms and peaceful resolution of disputes.

• The ‘Blue Economy’ has emerged as a promising new pillar of prosperity in the region, with immense economic and employment potential. India is engaging with its neighbours in Blue Economy initiatives, particularly in the areas of marine bio-technology, exploration and sustainable exploitation of ocean mineral resources, sustainable fishing practices, and harnessing of ocean energy.

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