India-Netherlands Agreement
India and the Netherlands have signed an important agreement to further strengthen their historic maritime relations. This MoU between the two countries has been made to increase cooperation in the field of maritime heritage. This agreement is being considered a big step towards giving global recognition to the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) being built in Lothal, Gujarat.
Agreement signed in the presence of foreign ministers
This MoU was exchanged by India’s External Affairs Minister S. This was done during the bilateral meeting between Jaishankar and Netherlands Foreign Minister David van Weel. This agreement indicates taking a new height to the cultural and historical cooperation between the two countries. The special thing is that in this partnership, NMHC of India and National Maritime Museum based in Amsterdam will work together.
Collaboration from museum planning to curation
The main objective of this agreement is to share experience and expertise related to the Maritime Museum. Under this, both the countries will help each other in areas like planning, design, curation and conservation of the museum. Netherlands has deep expertise in maritime history and museum management, which India will benefit from in making NMHC world-class.
Focus on joint exhibition and research
Under the MoU, India and Netherlands will jointly organize joint exhibitions. Along with this, cooperation will also be done on research projects related to maritime history. Both countries will also promote cultural exchange programs, which will give people an opportunity to understand each other’s maritime heritage closely.
Visitor experience will be made special
An important aspect of this partnership is to improve the experience of people visiting the museum. Emphasis will be laid on making the museum more interactive and interesting through new and modern technologies. Educational programs and public outreach activities will also be developed for children, students and the general public, so that history is not just something to be seen, but an experience to be understood and felt.
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Lothal: Pride of India’s maritime history
Lothal in Gujarat is considered one of the oldest ports in the world. The National Maritime Heritage Complex to be built here will showcase India’s 4,500-year-old maritime history. This project has the potential to establish India as a global heritage destination and will also promote tourism.
India’s soft power will get strengthened
This agreement is not limited to museums only, but also strengthens India’s cultural identity and soft power. Through international cooperation, India will be able to effectively present its rich maritime history to the world.