NEW DELHI: The Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) in Gurugram, on the outskirts of Delhi, India, has become a principal hub for enabling information exchange in the Indian Ocean Region.
In a detailed status report by the government’s Press Information Bureau (PIB), India said, “Its calibrated response, ingenuity and unflinching resolve” in the context of a recent increase in piracy in the Indian Ocean “has garnered international acclaim by virtue of the effects generated in safeguarding global maritime interests, countering marine threats, thwarting piracy and denting narcotics trade in the region.”
The report added, “The response of the IFC-IOR to various security situations has once again proved that safety of life at sea remains an overarching principle irrespective of the nationality of seafarers.”
Since the resurgence of piracy recently, the PIB claimed that Indian efforts have saved 110 lives – including 45 Indian seafarers. About 1.5 million tons of critical commodities have b
een escorted to safety and more than 3,000 kg. of narcotics have been seized.
The IFC-IOR is a regional maritime security centre that was established in December 2018. It works to enhance maritime safety in the Indian Ocean.
At present, India hosts International Liaison Officers from 12 partner nations under the aegis of the IFC-IOR. It also has 67 international working-level linkages with other multi-national maritime security centres worldwide.
Source: Emirates News Agency