In a first of its kind confluence of Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries in India, a three-day-long international conference on ‘India and the Indian Ocean: Renewing the Maritime Trade and Civilisational linkages’ would begin here from March 20.
The conference would be organised by the Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS) along with the Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS). The three-day conference will have parallel sessions and serious deliberations on all the three vital aspects of trade, maritime security and civilisational linkages in the region.
Twenty nations from the IOR region would attend the conference. It is supported by eight important Ministries of the Central Government such as External Affairs, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Power, Shipping, Commerce and Industry, Culture, Tourism and Agriculture.
Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj would inaugurate the conference, while Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan would be attended as guest of honour. Other reputed members including National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Ambassador KV Bhagirath, IORA secretary general would attend the conference.
Most importantly, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar would attend as chief guest in the valedictory session of the conference. The event would be marked by the release of a postal stamp on ‘Indian Ocean and Rajendra Chola I’ commemorating the occasion and the glorious past.