A four-member Indian Coast Guard delegation led by Director General ICG Paramesh Sivamani is participating in the 21st Heads of Asian Coast Guard Agencies Meeting (HACGAM) being held in Sydney, Australia. The meeting is being hosted by the Australian Border Force (ABF).
According to an ICG spokesperson, during the meeting, the ICG delegation shared India’s experience in maritime security operations, disaster response, and marine environment protection, while exploring avenues for joint exercises, training programmes, and enhanced operational coordination with regional partners.
The ICG also conducted a courtesy bilateral meeting with the Thailand Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (Thai-MECC) on the sidelines of the 21st HACGAM, discussing collaborative and contemporary maritime issues with the agency.
The HACGAM is a premier regional forum consisting of 21 member countries from Asia and beyond, one Region (Hong Kong), and two Associate Members (UNODC & ReCAAP), fostering cooperation among Asian Coast Guard agencies on issues relating to maritime safety, security, environmental protection, and law enforcement. India, as the Chair of the Maritime Search and Rescue (M-SAR) Pillar, and a member of working groups on Environmental Protection, Prevention and Control of Unlawful Activities at Sea, Information Sharing, and Joint Exercises, is contributing actively to the discussions and collaborative initiatives.
The origin of HACGAM can be traced back to the successful interception of the MV Alondra Rainbow by the Indian Coast Guard in 1999, following a piracy incident. Recognising the need for institutionalised regional coordination, the Japan Coast Guard convened the first HACGAM in Tokyo in 2004, paving the way for sustained multilateral engagement among Asian maritime law enforcement agencies, the spokesperson stated.
Over the years, the HACGAM has evolved into a key platform for enhancing coordination in search and rescue operations, combating transnational maritime crimes, addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and strengthening marine environmental protection. The forum also promotes capacity building, mutual trust, and interoperability among participating agencies.