President Macron,

Excellencies,

Namaskar!

I congratulate President Macron on this important global initiative for oceans.

India has always been a maritime civilization.

Our ancient scriptures and literature talk about the gifts of the oceans including marine life.

Today, our security and prosperity are linked to oceans.

India’s ”Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative” contains marine resources as a key pillar.

India supports the French initiative of a ”High Ambition Coalition on Bio-diversity Beyond National Jurisdiction ”.

We hope for a legally binding international treaty this year.

India is committed to eliminating single-use plastic.

India recently undertook a nation-wide awareness campaign to clean plastic and other waste from coastal areas.

Three hundred thousand young people collected almost 13 tons of plastic waste.

I have also directed our Navy to contribute100 ship-days this year to cleaning plastic waste from the seas.

India will be happy to join France in launching a global initiative on single use plastics.

Thank you, President Macron.

Delhi, February 11, 2022