♦ India and Saudi Arabia have agreed to deepen bilateral maritime relations.

♦ Both countries have formed a Joint Working Group (JWG) on maritime cooperation in the shipping and logistics sectors, marking a new chapter in the strategic partnership.

♦ This decision was taken during a high-level virtual meeting between Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Transport and Logistic Services Saleh bin Nasser Al-Jasser.

♦ The establishment of the strategic partnership council, co-chaired by the leaders of both countries, has elevated bilateral cooperation to new heights.

♦ Sonowal pointed to recent developments, including the launch of the Jeddah–Mundra/Nhava Sheva route by Saudi Arabia’s Folk Maritime Services, which is expected to cut down transit times and costs.

♦ He also proposed collaboration on India’s MAITRI digital platform for the harmonisation of maritime trade.