New Delhi: A high level meeting of Indian Coast Guard and Oman Police Coast Guard was held in New Delhi on February 24 with both sides agreeing to strengthen the mutual cooperation in accordance with the provisions of a MoU. Sharing of best management practices and continuation of professional exchange were also agreed upon during the meeting.

The Indian side was led by Director General K Natarajan, and the four member delegation of the Royal Oman Police Coast Guard is led by Staff Colonel (Engineer) Ali Saif Khalfan Al Muqbali, Officer Commanding, who are in India on a five-day visit which began on February 23.

The meeting focused on augmenting the operational level interaction and capacity building in areas of Search and Rescue, Pollution Response and Maritime Law Enforcement.

The relations between the two Coast Guards go back a long way with ICG ships calling on ports in Oman for professional interactions since 2005. This meeting and visit is in continuation of the efforts by the governments of the two countries to enhance cooperation between the two Coast Guards in the field of combating transnational marine crime enhancing national security.

In his visit to India, the Officer Commanding, ROPCG also called on senior officials of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs. The meeting was significant in providing added impetus to the already existing professional relationship between the Coast Guards of India and Oman.