Indian Ocean Region: PM outlines six priorities

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has outlined six priority areas, including fostering maritime diplomacy and partnership, and strengthening maritime security and mutual trust, for the Indian Ocean countries to ensure prosperity.

"Despite its potential, the region faces many challenges. The countries in the Indian Ocean region, therefore, need to foster partnerships and cooperation for ensuring peace and prosperity for all," she said.

The PM was addressing an event marking the inauguration of the 6th Indian Ocean Conference-2023 at a city hotel yesterday.

Dhaka is hosting the two-day conference with participation of high-level government delegations and think tanks from at least 25 countries.

Hasina said given its geographical position, the Indian Ocean holds significant importance not only for Bangladesh, but also for all other regional countries. Bangladesh has recently formulated its Indo-Pacific Outlook, she added.

The PM said the countries in the Indian Ocean region should foster "maritime diplomacy" for their development, thereby ensuring a prosperous future.

She said climate vulnerability of many countries in the region calls for the need to enhance cooperation to reduce the impact of natural disasters.

Mutual trust and respect among the countries should be strengthened for building strong partnerships to ensure stability for a resilient future in the Indian Ocean, Hasina added.

The premier said the regional countries should strengthen existing mechanisms on maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean, including response to emergencies at sea, conduct of search and rescue, uphold the exercise of freedom of navigation and overflight, in accordance with international law.

She said the countries should promote "culture of peace" and people-centric development in the region. Women, half of the global population, should get due attention, for building peaceful, just and inclusive societies in the region, the PM observed.

Hasina said the regional countries should promote open, transparent, rules-based multilateral systems that facilitate equitable and sustainable development in the region and beyond through inclusive economic growth.

She said the oceans and seas account for 90 percent of world trade and 60 percent of oil transportation. The real value of global maritime trade has increased remarkably in the past 15 years, she added.

Although oceans offer excellent opportunities in supporting sustainable development in countries across the world, much of their potential still remains untapped, the PM observed.

She noted that the Indian Ocean region has significant economic, political, and strategic implications in the Asia-Pacific and African regions.

Hasina said the theme of the conference -- Peace, Partnership and Prosperity: Towards a resilient future -- is very appropriate and timely.

"The theme becomes all the more relevant in the light of the recent Covid-19 pandemic, and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, and consequent sanctions and counter-sanctions. These have posed unprecedented challenges for all nations world over."

The PM said global recession, food, energy, and fertiliser crises have resulted in unbearable living conditions for all people of the world.

She said the Indian Ocean region is also facing challenges such as climate change, maritime security, terrorism, and natural disasters.

"To overcome them, the countries in the region must come together to build partnership, and put collective efforts to promote peace and prosperity, for a brighter region."

Hasina said Bangladesh views the "culture of peace" as an essential element that will reinforce all aspects of peace. That's why Bangladesh is committed to UN's global peacekeeping and peace-building endeavors, the premier added.

She said despite many challenges, Bangladesh provided temporary shelter to more than 1.1 million forcibly displaced Myanmar nationals. This gesture avoided a major humanitarian catastrophe in the region, the PM said.

"Now, we seek support from the global community to repatriate the Rohingya people to their homeland in a safe and sustainable manner," she added.

Speaking at the inaugural session, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said they believe that a seamless transition into an Indo-Pacific is to their collective advantage.

He reiterated India's commitment to the well-being and progress of all nations of the Indian Ocean.

"We have dedicated bodies like the Indian Ocean Rim Association or the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, with their specific mandates. We expand on that belief through the Neighbourhood First policy, the SAGAR outlook and our approach to the extended neighbourhood," the minister said.

Jaishankar appreciated the personal support and encouragement extended by Hasina.

Referring to the release of Bangladesh's Indo-Pacific Outlook on April 24, the Indian minister said, "By doing so, Bangladesh joined a number of countries ranging from ASEAN and East Asia to Europe and North America in articulating its thinking on this important subject."

He said Bangladesh's views are particularly noteworthy because of its standing as a progressive and successful developing economy that is making its fullest contribution to regional growth and prosperity.

Jaishankar said when nations disregard their legal obligations or violate long-standing agreements, the damage to trust and confidence is immense. "It is therefore essential that all of us take the long view of our cooperation, rather than a tactical one of our interests."

The minister said the Indian Ocean countries must be conscious of the threats to social fabric posed by extremism and fundamentalism taking advantage of democratic openness. "The costs of not doing so are also starkly apparent to all of us today."

President of Mauritius Prithvirajsing Roopun, Vice President of the Maldives Faisal Nassem, Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen and President of India Foundation Ram Madhav also spoke in the inaugural session.