India Must Develop Indian Ocean-Red Sea-Mediterranean Ocean Route to Europe

India Must Rediscover Its Ancient Trade Routes

India's greatest geological advantage is its largest Indian Ocean Coastline. In fact India has the largest coastline in Asia. India must rediscover its premodern trade routes in Indian Ocean and must redevelop them to its trade advantage. It should even consider under sea pipelines from the Middle East for oil and natural gas transportation.

Firstly, developing safe ocean trade is easier, and cheaper than road and rail network in a rough terrain. That is the reason Rome-India trade flourished between 300B.C.E-300 C.E. The trade was greatly advantageous to India, because of the monsoon winds which made the ocean travel safe and fast. India even traded with it middle eastern and African neighbors through its ocean route. Red Sea voyages, passing on to Mediterranean Ocean was recounted in number of historical accounts.

Secondly, with the modern technology it is easier and cheaper to build and maintain undersea pipe lines. India should abandon it plans of land based pipeline network through Pakistan. These lines are being laid in a highly volatile region, for two reason. Firstly, geographically this is located in a seismically active zone, and secondly, the region of Pakistan is politically volatile.

India should abandon all plans of taking part in the Silk Road- or the like connections being developed between China, and Pakistan, leading up to Europe. India does not have to depend on a road network outside its borders to increase its trade. India already has an open coastal trade, only waiting to be reconnected. There are several reasons Silk Road could be disastrous to trade, and development of India, but a couple of the important reasons can be considered here.

Firstly that China is overly zealous when it comes to protecting its trade interests, and investments. So expecting a co-operation from China is futile. Even though trades contact are allowed it could almost be expected to be unilateral, and biased in favor of China. Secondly that India could not be in positing to guarantee safety, due to the volatility in Pakistan's political condition and hence may have to pay a large human capital for marginal gains.

Finally it is advantageous for India to develop its own trade routes which have contributed to its success in the past. Modi government should plan its expansion on the Oceans, not on the land!