The sixth edition of the International Indian Ocean Conference is set to begin on May 12 in Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital city. (Note: This is not the same as the Indian Ocean Commission.)
Indian Ocean Conference (IOC), 2023
- Since 2016, the IOC has been conducted annually and has become a major platform for regional governments to debate regional issues.
- It focuses on strengthening regional cooperation for Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR), bringing together essential states and regional marine partners.
Theme:
- The conference’s topic this year is “Peace, Prosperity, and Partnership for a Resilient Future,” with a focus on the post-Covid situation and the continuing Russia-Ukraine war.
Participants:
- The conference’s primary focus is on Indian Ocean coastal countries, but it has broadened its scope to include vital and timely themes in the changing global context.
- The summit will be attended by the President of Mauritius, the Vice President of the Maldives, and the Indian External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar.
- Foreign Ministers from Bhutan, Nepal, Bahrain, and Singapore will attend, as will ministerial delegates from Seychelles, Sri Lanka, and Madagascar.
- Around 150 foreign guests, including D8, SAARC, and BIMSTEC representatives, are anticipated to attend.
Organizers:
- The India Foundation is organising the conference in conjunction with the Bangladesh Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Indian Ocean Conference’s (IOC) Importance
- The conference intends to build partnerships with Indian Ocean countries, increase regional political engagement, and make crisis decision-making easier.
- It allows participating countries to discuss current world issues and make educated judgements about future measures.
Source: https://newsonair.com/2023/05/11/6th-indian-ocean-conference-to-begin-in-dhaka-on-friday/