The Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the International Conference on Disaster Resilient Infrastructure 2025 via videoconferencing, welcoming participants to the event and expressing gratitude to the President of France and the Government of France for their support in organizing the conference. The theme of the conference, 'Shaping a Resilient Future for Coastal Regions,' highlights the vulnerability of coastal regions and islands to natural disasters and climate change.
Recent disasters, including Cyclone Remal in India and Bangladesh, Hurricane Beryl in the Caribbean, Typhoon Yagi in South-east Asia, Hurricane Helene in the United States, Typhoon Usagi in the Philippines, and Cyclone Chido in parts of Africa, have caused significant damage to lives and property. The Prime Minister emphasized that resilient infrastructure and proactive disaster management are essential to mitigate these risks.
India's past experiences with devastating disasters, such as the super-cyclone of 1999 and the tsunami of 2004, have taught valuable lessons on resilience and adaptation. India has made significant strides in rebuilding and strengthening its infrastructure, including constructing cyclone shelters across vulnerable areas and contributing to the establishment of a tsunami warning system benefiting 29 countries.
The Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) is working with 25 Small Island Developing States to build resilient homes, hospitals, schools, energy systems, water security measures, and early warning systems. The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the presence of representatives from the Pacific Indian Ocean and Caribbean regions, as well as the African Union's participation in the coalition.
The conference will focus on key global priorities, including integrating disaster resilience courses into higher education, creating a global digital repository to document best practices, innovative financing, recognizing Small Island Developing States as Large Ocean Countries, and strengthening early warning systems and coordination. The Prime Minister urged global efforts to build a strong and disaster-resilient future for the world.
In his address, the Prime Minister called for constructing infrastructure that remains steadfast against time and tide, emphasizing the need for resilience in development. He concluded by expressing confidence that discussions at the conference would address these essential aspects.