As part of India's efforts to strengthen maritime security and boost economic ties with Indian Ocean Rim countries, a three-day international conference to be attended by 20 nations will be held here next month.
The conference titled "India and the Indian Ocean: Renewing the Maritime Trade and Civilisational Linkages", would be held from March 20 to 22.
The conclave, being organised by Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS) jointly with Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), is supported by eight Union ministries -- External Affairs, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Power, Shipping, Commerce and Industry, Culture, Tourism and Agriculture.
Representatives from Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Thailand, Mauritius, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Madagascar, Singapore, Yemen, Oman, Iran, and Cambodia are expected to attend the conference, a release of ISCS said here today.
Union ministers Sushma Swaraj, Manohar Parrikar and Dharmendra Pradhan, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Secretary General of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) K V Bhagirath are likely to attend the meet, it said.
The meet will provide an opportunity to study and analyse Indian Ocean countries from all aspects -- historical, economical, geo-political, cultural, energy security, religion, literature, trade, migration, diaspora and rejuvenate the ties that bind the nations, ISCS secretary Arindam Mukherjee said.
Indian Ocean has been a meeting point for western, northern, eastern and south-east Asian countries and Indian Ocean Rim countries have strategic relevance as well as socio-cultural similarities, which are key to foster sustained economic and trade ties in the region, he said.
Knowledge sessions apart, an exhibition on 'Indian Ocean: The Seafaring Legacy' will be organised. It will showcase the vast heritage of the region, its inter-linkages, its synergic ideologies, cultural similarities and also display various symbols and remnants of the glorious past.
The event will be marked by release of a postal stamp on 'Indian Ocean and RajendraChola I', commemorating the occasion and the glorious past, the release said.
