India, Singapore sign key agreement to boost maritime

Facts of the agreement:

• India and Singapore signed an agreement on July 21, 2015 on sharing white-shipping information to enhance maritime cooperation between the two natives India and Singapore.
• Navy chief Admiral R K Dhowan, who on his maiden visit to Singapore called on Singapore’s Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen, Chief of Defence Force Lt-Gen Ng Chee Meng and Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral (RADM) Lai Chung Han after inspecting a Guard of Honour at Ministry of Defence.
• R K Dhowan visited the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)’s Information Fusion Centre and the Changi Naval Base, where he had RADM Lai signed a Technical Agreement (TA) on sharing white-shipping information
• White-shipping refers to commercial shipping information about movement of cargo ships.
• This agreement would allow both sides to explore new areas of cooperation for mutual benefit.
• The RSN and the Indian Navy conduct the Singapore-India Maritime Bilateral Exercise (SIMBEX) together annually and other year’s SIMBEX, held in May, was the 22^nd in the series.
• Both navies also interact regularly through high-level visits, dialogues, joint military training, courses and other professional exchanges.