MUSCAT: The 8th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) under the theme ‘Voyage to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership’ began in Oman on Sunday.

The two-day event underscores Oman’s commitment to enhancing maritime security, supporting sustainable maritime trade, and fostering international cooperation to address common challenges faced by countries within the Indian Ocean region.

Delivering his keynote address, Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister called the Indian Ocean as a flobal lifeline. “We meet at a time when there is considerable churn in world affairs. At such a juncture, an open and constructive exchange of views is of particular benefit. I am confident that all of us will find great value in the discussions that we will be holding over the next two days,” Jaishankar said.

“Changes in the global order may be expressed through new ideas and concepts. But they are also reflected in the evolving landscape. The Indian Ocean region is no exception to that rule. And this matters not just to us as inhabitants of this community, but given our salience in so many dimensions, to other regions and nations as well. After all, as we heard from previous speakers, the Indian Ocean is veritably a global lifeline. Its production, consumption, contribution and connectivity is central to the manner in which the world runs today.

“At the two ends of the ocean, this churn is at its sharpest today. In the Middle East/West Asia, there is a serious conflict underway with the potential for further escalation and complication. At the same time, long standing issues are being revisited, sometimes with a radically different approach. Its maritime consequence is visible in a serious disruption of global shipping, with considerable cost to our economies. There are questions which arise from our ability and willingness to respond, as indeed from the partnerships relevant to that task,” he added.

The event will provide opportunities to explore economic cooperation by reviewing competitive economic data, identifying new areas for trade, and fostering investment opportunities across the region.

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