10.2.1 Cooperation with China

A four-member delegation led by Secretary, DOD visited China from 8th to 14th May 2000 to explore S&T Cooperation in the Ocean Sector between the two countries. The delegation visited the State Oceanic Administration (SOA) at Beijing, National Marine Information & Data Service Centre and Institute of Ocean Technology at Tianjin, the First Institute of Oceanography of SOA, North Sea Branch of SOA at Quingdao, and the Institute of Polar Research at Shanghai. Areas for possible cooperation in Ocean Science and Technology and Polar Science were identified. A six-member Chinese delegation led by Deputy Administrator, SOA paid a return visit to India in the last week of November 2000. The delegation showed interest in Polar and Ocean Science & Technology in addition to the legal framework in India for regulation of marine affairs.

10.2.2 Cooperation with Mauritius

During 24-31 May 2000, an Indian delegation led by Director, NIOT, held discussions with senior officials of Mauritius Government for the preparation of a feasibility report on the installation of Wave Energy and Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion plants in Mauritius.

10.2.3 Cooperation with Myanmar:

Under the Programme of Cooperation in Ocean Science between the Government of India and Government of the Union of Myanmar, an instrumentation specialist from National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai visited Myanmar and inspected sites for installation of acoustic tide gauge designed and developed by NIOT for measurement of sea levels. "Oceanography" was also identified as one of the broad areas for cooperation under the economic umbrella grouping of the BIMST-EC (Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Thailand – Economic Cooperation) in the BIMST-EC Expert's Group Meeting for Technology Cooperation in New Delhi held on 18-19 December 2000.

10.2.4 Cooperation with Vietnam:

Under the Programme of Cooperation in Science and Technology between the Government of India and Government of Vietnam, an acoustic tide gauge was installed and commissioned on 1st January 2001 at Qui Nhon, Vietnam – a port town 1000 km north of Ho Chi Minh City. The gauge was indigenously designed and developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai to international standards, field tested and accepted by the Survey of India.

10.2.5 Visit of Mauritius Prime Minister to NIOT

Rt. Hon'ble Sir Anerood Jugnauth, Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius along with a high level delegation comprising Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary (Information Technology), Advisors in the Mauritius Prime Minister's Office, High Commissioner of Mauritius in India and High Commissioner of India in Mauritius visited NIOT on 20th January 2001. Secretary, DOD and Chairman, Governing Council, NIOT was also present during the occasion. Director, NIOT gave a brief presentation highlighting various technology development activities of NIOT including the following major areas, which would be of interest to Mauritius:

Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC)

Proposed oceanographic survey activities in Mauritius

National Data Buoy Programme and Acoustic Tide Gauge

Highlights of what NIOT could do for Mauritius Oceanographic survey

Deep sea mining activities

The PD-ICMAM made a presentation on the activities of the Integrated Coastal and Marine Area Management Programme.

The Hon'ble Prime Minister and the visiting delegation also went around the Integration Bay and witnessed the technology products and display of:

Crawler mounted integrated mining system

Data Buoy

Acoustic Tide Gauge

LMRE activities

The observations of the Hon'ble Prime Minister of Mauritius contained in the visitor's book is reproduced below:

"Thanks for organizing this visit and the presentations. Myself and the members of the visiting delegation are very grateful for the warm reception. The work that is being done is very impressive and I hope that there will be close collaboration between our two countries. Good work and all our best wishes".