Union Minister of State for Defence, Sanjay Seth, attended the cultural and inaugural ceremony of AIKEYME — the Africa India Key Maritime Engagement — in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
This first-of-its-kind multilateral naval exercise is being held from April 13 to 18, bringing together 10 participating nations: India, Comoros, Djibouti, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, South Africa, and host country Tanzania.
Strengthening Maritime Security and Regional Unity
Speaking at the event, MoS Seth emphasized the importance of AIKEYME, highlighting it as a landmark initiative that supports maritime cooperation and the vision of “Security and Growth for All in the Region” (SAGAR), as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“This exercise is a joint effort of 10 countries to ensure security in the Indian Ocean region. It’s being conducted for the first time in Africa, and India is proud to be a key partner,” said Seth.
He also shared that three Indian naval ships and four Tanzanian vessels are participating in the exercise, alongside a Defence Expo, which featured demonstrations and contributions including parachutes, simulators, and books worth ₹80 lakhs to Tanzania’s Defence Department.
Engaging the Indian Diaspora in Tanzania
Seth also interacted with members of the Indian community during the cultural programme.
Sameer Gupta, MD of Kamal Group, expressed pride in the growing ties:
“It was an honour to be part of this huge event. Meeting the MoS Defence and witnessing this collaboration up close was truly special.”
Professor Kaushik Ramaiah, a senior endocrinologist, echoed the sentiment:
“I was born here and have served for over 43 years. It makes us proud to see India leading such a meaningful initiative in East Africa.”
A Step Towards Holistic Growth Across Regions
The term AIKEYME, meaning ‘Unity’ in Sanskrit, perfectly captures the spirit of this initiative — one that is set to promote peace, security, and shared progress across the Indian Ocean region.
This exercise aligns with India’s wider strategic goals under the MAHASAGAR vision (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions), strengthening its presence and partnerships across Africa.
Stay tuned as the six-day event unfolds with both land-based and sea-based naval activities — a promising start to India’s deeper maritime collaboration with Africa.