BOBP-IGO and ESSO-Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) signed a Framework of Cooperation on 05 August 2024 to improve and extend ocean information services in the Bay of Bengal region.

 

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. P. Krishnan, Director, BOBP-IGO, highlighted the scope of this promising partnership and the specific interests of the BOBP- IGO member countries: Bangladesh, India, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.

 

Invitees from Bangladesh, Maldives, and Sri Lanka also attended the signing ceremony virtually and appreciated the need and potential of the cooperation.

 

Dr. T. Srinivasa Kumar, Director, INCOIS, outlined potential service areas and assured that the unique needs of each country could be addressed.

 

Eminent scientists Dr. R Venkatesan and Dr. S.T. Balasubramaniam also participated in the signing ceremony. They provided perspectives on the scope of ocean information and scientific and technological advancements in the field.

 

This collaboration aims to boost cooperation in research, policy advocacy, capacity building, and outreach in ocean information services. Key focus areas among BOBP-IGO members include Potential Fishing Zones (PFZ), sea safety, bleaching alerts, algal blooms, and oil spill tracking.

 

Other objectives encompass facilitating institutional visits, exchanging students and researchers, promoting the exchange of scientific materials, organizing joint events, and acting as an outreach interface for INCOIS within BOBP-IGO member countries.