Bangladesh
IOC PM to inaugurate Indian Ocean Conference tomorrow
Dhaka, May 11: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the two-day Sixth Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) on Friday. It will be attended by ministerial representatives of at least 25 countries to discuss strengthening regional cooperation.
Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen said in a briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, "We hope that several recommendations will come out of this conference to deal with the problems and challenges that the countries of the Indian Ocean region are facing - which will play an important role in formulating the future action plan of the region. will do."
He said, Bangladesh's partnership with the Indian Ocean countries will be strengthened by organizing this IOC. Momen said that ministers and state ministers of 25 countries including Mauritius President Prithviraj Singh Rupoon and India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will attend the conference. Besides, about 150 foreign guests including representatives of D8, SAARC and BIMSTEC will participate in the conference. The participating ministers will also visit the Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at 32 Dhanmondi to pay their respects to the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will host a dinner in honour of the guests.
Foreign Minister Momen said in response to a question that Myanmar was not invited to the conference. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam said that Bangladesh has good relations with Mauritius and the relations will be further strengthened through the visit of the country's president.
The 6th edition of the conference is being organized by the India Foundation in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of Bangladesh. The conference will bring together key stakeholders in an enlightened gathering to develop a roadmap to strengthen the Indian Ocean region under the theme “Peace, Prosperity and Partnership for a Sustainable Future”.
The Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) began in 2016 and over the past six years has emerged as a flagship consultative forum for countries in the region on regional issues.
The conference is an attempt to bring together the countries and major maritime partners of the region on a common platform to open up areas of potential for regional cooperation for the security and growth of all in the region.
