Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji
Panaji, Feb 17: Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth will join maritime security experts from across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) at the fifth edition of the Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC-26) on February 21, an official statement said on Tuesday.
The conclave will be held at the Naval War College, with Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, hosting Chiefs of Navies, heads of maritime forces, and senior representatives from 14 countries.
This year’s theme is “Common Maritime Security Challenges in the IOR — Progressing Line of Efforts to Mitigate Dynamic Threats such as IUU Fishing and other Illegal Maritime Activities.” The theme underscores the need for synergy, collaboration and coordinated action among maritime nations with strategic stakes in the Indian Ocean Region.
Senior representatives from Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Tanzania are expected to participate in the conclave.
The event will feature deliberations by eminent speakers and subject-matter experts, focusing on real-time maritime information sharing and joint efforts to enhance capacities and capabilities.
Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd), former Chief of the Naval Staff, will deliver the keynote address.
The Goa Maritime Conclave and Goa Maritime Symposium were instituted in 2017 and 2016 respectively to foster collaborative thinking and mutual understanding between India and key maritime nations of the IOR, in line with the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).
The maritime domain in the IOR continues to face a wide range of traditional and non-traditional challenges with significant implications for regional security and livelihoods. Threats such as maritime terrorism, contraband smuggling, Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing, piracy, armed robbery and irregular migration remain pressing concerns.
The statement added that emerging risks, including climate change, cyber threats and dark shipping, further complicate the maritime security environment, highlighting the need for stronger cooperation and effective collaborative mechanisms among partner nations.