Singapore’s Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan heads to Perth, Australia, for the 7th Indian Ocean Conference focusing on maritime sustainability and navigation freedom.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, is set to participate in the seventh Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) scheduled for February 9, 2024, in Perth, Australia. This year’s conference, themed “Towards a Stable and Sustainable Indian Ocean,” aims to convene regional partners to deliberate on critical maritime issues, including sustainability, climate change, and ensuring freedom and safety in navigation.
The Indian Ocean, a crucial artery for global trade, sees over one-third of the world’s bulk cargo traffic and two-thirds of its oil shipments. The conference underscores the strategic importance of the Indian Ocean in global commerce and environmental stability.
Dr. Balakrishnan co-leads the IOC Organising Committee, a prestigious panel including Minister of External Affairs of India Dr. S Jaishankar, Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong, and the Sultanate of Oman’s Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Bin Hamid Bin Hamood Al-Busaidi. Accompanying Dr. Balakrishnan are officials from Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, highlighting the collaborative effort in addressing the conference’s pivotal themes.
The IOC serves as a platform for regional stakeholders to forge consensus on enhancing maritime security, environmental conservation, and the unimpeded flow of commerce through the Indian Ocean, reflecting a collective commitment towards a stable and sustainable maritime future.
Source – MFA
