'Milan-2014', a biennial congregation of maritime navies of the Asia-Pacific region will be held at Port Blair from February 4 to 9 with the underlying theme of 'Friendship Across the Seas', a Navy spokesman said here today.
Professional interactions during Milan-2014 would encompass sharing of views and ideas on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) and Search and Rescue (SAR) operations at sea, spokesperson of the Andaman Nicobar Command said.
"Milan basically is a biennial conglomeration of Asia-Pacific maritime navies, hosted by the Indian Navy, to foster bonds of 'friendship across the seas', boost interoperability and share views on common maritime issues. From four navies in 1995, it has grown to include 14 navies in 2012," he said.
An important priority in the Asia-Pacific region is protection of sea lanes around the Malacca Strait since around 60,000 ships sail through it every year, transporting around 30 per cent of the world trade in goods.
For India, the stakes are high, with the strategic Andaman and Nicobar Islands dominating the approaches to the Malacca Strait.
