Kingston, Jamaica – 18 July 2024 — H.E. Mr. Mayank Joshi presented his credentials to the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority (ISA), H.E. Mr. Michael W. Lodge, as the Permanent Representative of the Republic of India to ISA during a ceremony held at the ISA headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.
H.E. Mr. Joshi brings a wealth of diplomatic expertise to his new role. A member of the Indian Foreign Service since 2003, he has held diplomatic assignments in France, Myanmar, Japan and the Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in New York. His areas of expertise include international security and strategic affairs. Ambassador Joshi is proficient in Hindi, English and French.
At the presentation of his credentials, High Commissioner Joshi underscored the long-standing relationship between ISA and India. “India values the work of ISA in regulating seabed mineral resources activities in the Area for the benefit of humankind and ensuring the effective protection of the marine environment in parallel,” High Commissioner Joshi said.
“Being a Group B member in the Council and as a pioneer investor, India has been actively contributing to the seabed minerals exploration activities since the inception of ISA. I look forward to productively working with the Member States and ISA,” he added.
Welcoming H.E. Mr. Mayank Joshi, H.E. Mr. Lodge noted the active role played by India over the years. “I am delighted to welcome the new Permanent Representative of India to ISA. India has supported the implementation of the regime for the deep seabed since becoming the first registered pioneer investor in the 1980s. Since then, India’s commitment to marine scientific research and technology development has increased exponentially, along with its commitment to sharing knowledge with other developing economies,” Mr Lodge said.
“ISA is fully committed to continuing and increasing its valuable scientific and technical collaborations with Indian institutions,” he added.
About ISA
The International Seabed Authority (ISA) is an autonomous intergovernmental organization mandated by the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea to manage the mineral resources of the seabed beyond national jurisdiction for the shared benefit of humankind. ISA is committed to the principle that all economic activities in the deep seabed, including deep-seabed mining, must be regulated and responsibly managed using the best available scientific evidence for the benefit of all nations of the world. ISA works to ensure that the voices of all States, including developing States and other stakeholders, are effectively heard in discussions around the sustainable development of the deep seabed.
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