INDIA AND THE SECURE FREIGHT INITIATIVE AND

UNCLAS STATE 062011 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KHLS EWWT ETTC PARM PREL IN SUBJECT: INDIA AND THE SECURE FREIGHT INITIATIVE AND MEGAPORTS INITIATIVE REF: A. STATE 034972 ¶B. NEW DELHI 1211 ¶C. NEW DELHI 1213 ¶1. This is an action request. Please see para 6. ¶2. Summary: The Departments of Energy - National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA),and Homeland Security - Bureau of Customs and Border Protection (DHS/CBP) are prepared to meet in New Delhi with relevant Indian officials from August 3-6, 2009, as well as to tour the ports of Jawaharlal Nehru (JNTP) and Mumbai to facilitate the implementation in India of the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI) and the second Line of Defense (SLD)/Megaports Initiative. This proposed visit will be led by Justin Friedman, Director for the Department of State,s Office of Export Control Cooperation. Alternatively, the team is also available August 10-13, 2009. End Summary. ¶3. Background: The United States Government is interested in cooperating with the Government of India (GOI) under the auspices of the Secure Freight Initiative (SFI). DOE/NNSA and DHS/CBP have identified Jawaharlal Nehru (JNTP) and Mundra as ports that would present the most benefits to the SFI program. The focus of SFI is the integrated scanning of U.S. bound containers utilizing radiation portal monitors and non-intrusive inspection imaging systems. Efforts under the SFI would enhance both U.S. and India,s maritime security. ¶4. In addition to the SFI efforts at JNTP and Mundra, the USG is also interested in cooperation under the auspices of DOE/NNSA's SLD/Megaports Initiative at these ports as well as at Ports of Chennai and Mumbai. The Megaports Initiative,s objective is to scan import, export, and transshipped cargo containers for radiation and radioactive materials, regardless of final destination. The efforts under SLD/Megaports will enable front-line officials to scan all cargo that move through the respective ports, and not just U.S.-bound cargo and enhance both U.S. and India,s maritime security. ¶5. During meetings in New Delhi, DOE/NNSA and DHS/CBP will be prepared to present a joint sample MOU regarding cooperation on SFI, including roles and responsibilities for various entities to include the Terminal Operators and the Indian Government. DOE/NNSA would also like to present an MOU for cooperative efforts under the SLD/Megaports Initiative. ¶6. Action Request: The Department requests that Post seek Indian concurrence to a visit from a team from DOE/NNSA and DHS/CBP, led by the Department of State from August 3-6, 2009 (with alternate dates of August 10-13, 2009) and agree to initial port visits at Jawaharlal Nehru (JNTP) and Mumbai. Post is requested to respond by July 10, 2009 to provide adequate lead-time for the technical team. ¶7. Department points of contact are Doris Haywood(haywooddr@state.gov),for Maritime security and Dan Forbes (ForbesRD@state.gov)for Export Control Cooperation. Department of Energy,s contact for the Megaports Initiative in India is Katherine Crouch, (202)586-9610, Katherine.Crouch@NNSA.DOE.GOV (unclass), Katherine.Crouch@DOE.SGOV.GOV. Department of Homeland Security,s contact for the Secure Freight Initiative is Richard Dinucci (richard.dinucci@dhs.gov). CLINTON