New Delhi, Feb 16 (.) The Indian Navy inaugurated the Milan Village at the Eastern Naval Command as part of its flagship international naval exercise, Milan 2026, creating a dedicated space to foster camaraderie and global maritime engagement among participating nations.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Vice Admiral Sanjay Bhalla, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, who formally declared the village open and toured the facilities designed to host delegates and naval personnel from over 70 countries.
Conceptualised as an immersive experience zone, the Milan Village has been established to promote social and cultural exchanges alongside professional interactions, serving as a vibrant hub for friendship, dialogue and cooperation among partner navies during Milan 2026.
In a statement issued here on Monday, the Naval spokesperson stated that a central feature of the Milan village is its emphasis on cultural exchange, offering a rich and immersive glimpse into India’s diverse heritage and tradition. The village will host live performances by vocal artists, traditional folk-dance performances and cultural ensembles reflecting the vibrant artistic legacy of India.
The village features a variety of stalls featuring naval souvenirs, handicraft and handloom products. Together, they showcase craftmanship from across the country. In addition, visitors will be treated to mouth-watering Indian cuisine, offering a diverse range of regional flavours and tastes of India.
In his remarks, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Naval Command, highlighted that “MILAN Village reflects the spirit of camaraderie and cultural connect that complements professional naval engagement. As Visakhapatnam hosts IFR, MILAN and IONS in close succession, this convergence represents a significant moment in India’s maritime outreach and cooperative engagement with partner navies.”
The opening of the MILAN Village also marks the beginning of a broader sequence of engagements and events being conducted at Visakhapatnam by the Indian Navy.
As one of the largest multilateral naval exercises in the Indo-Pacific, MILAN 2026 will bring together navies from across the globe to strengthen interoperability, maritime domain awareness, and collective response capabilities. The Harbour and Sea Phases of the exercise will focus on complex maritime operations including anti-submarine warfare, air defence, search and rescue, and cooperative security missions, reinforcing a shared commitment to free, open, inclusive, and rules-based seas.
. PWS RSA
