Odisha to host International conference of Indian Ocean Rim Countries March 20

23 Feb, Bhubaneswar (odibizinfo)

India will hold a three-day international conference of Indian Ocean Rim Countries in Odisha starting March 20.
The conference is being organised jointly by Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS) and Research and Information System for Developing Countries.
The proposed conference is aimed at deepening economic ties with the Indian Ocean Rim countries and emphasize on maritime security said ISCS Secretary Arindam Mukherjee.
Union ministers Sushma Swaraj, Manohar Parrikar, Dharmendra Pradhan and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and secretary general of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Ambassador K.V. Bhagirath will attend the conference, he said.
About 20 nations, popularly known as Indian Ocean Rim countries, will participate in the conference “India and the Indian Ocean: Renewing the Maritime Trade and Civilisational Linkages”, a release of the Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS) said Monday.
Representatives from Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Thailand, Mauritius, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Madagascar, Singapore, Yemen, Oman, Iran, and Cambodia are expected to attend the conference.
This conference will provide an opportunity to study and analyze 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,” Mukherjee said”
Stating that the Indian Ocean has been a meeting point for western, northern, eastern and south east Asian countries, he said 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.