The Sultanate of Oman hosted the activities of the eighth IOC IOC conference under the slogan “a journey towards new horizons from the marine partnership” and lasted for two days, with high -level participation that included foreign ministers of countries overlooking the Indian Ocean and representatives of 60 countries and international organization.
The conference was held at the Oman Convention and Exhibition Center organized by the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in cooperation with the India Foundation, and with the support of the S. Rajaratnam for international studies in Singapore.
It shed light on the opportunities and challenges facing the countries overlooking the Indian Ocean, with a focus on enhancing cooperation in the maritime, economic and security fields. The conference aims to support sustainable development, achieve maritime security, ensure freedom of navigation, and benefit from modern technologies in promoting marine governance and port security.
Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al -Busaidi stressed during the conference that the Indian Ocean is not just a water space, but rather an artery for economic life, a platform for exchange and a bridge for communication and friendship, stressing the joint responsibility for addressing environmental issues, ensuring freedom of navigation, and enhancing the ability of coastal societies to confront Climate change challenges.
A balance between economic growth and environmental protection
Speaking of the economic vision of the Sultanate, Al -Busaidi explained that his country seeks to achieve a balance between economic growth and the preservation of the environment, especially in the sectors of the blue economy, the infrastructure of the ports, and logistical services.
He added, “We hope that this conference will allow us to develop sustainable and beneficial strategies for all, and our partnership is not limited to marine issues, but rather extends to include the transformation in the field of energy, technology, and common visions of the countries of the South.”
He stressed that the Sultanate is based on the principles of dialogue, mutual respect, and enhancing international cooperation, away from interfering in the internal affairs of countries, noting the importance of adopting an approach based on trust, leadership and constructive engagement to ensure a more stable and prosperous future.
A historical legacy of maritime partnership
The Omani minister pointed out that his country was a naval nation for thousands of years, as the ocean formed a gateway to trade and culture, and said, “Each society has presented its skills, goods and unique visions, and through the marine partnership, we were all able to benefit from this diversity.”
He explained that the rules of maritime navigation would not have been achieved without dialogue to put the laws, cooperation to implement them, and confidence in the intentions of the partners, which led to the development of the Law of the Seas.
He also reviewed the development of maritime laws since the seventh century with the Byzantine Empire, through the Dutch jurist Hugo Grocheus, who established the principle of the “Free Sea” in the 17th century, up to the Agreement of the Law of the Sea approved by the United Nations in the 20th century to confront marine challenges such as piracy, illegal hunting and cross -border crime .
Marine security guarantee
Al -Busaidi stressed that the conference reflects the conviction of Oman that the partnership is the best way to preserve the security and stability of the oceans, noting that maritime sovereignty and freedom of navigation are not achieved through hostile policies or military power but rather through cooperation and constructive engagement.
In the context of strengthening maritime security, the Omani minister called for uniting the voice of the southern countries to face common challenges, and to enhance the joint understanding of the motives of bodies that threaten the stability of the seas.
“We are looking at the Indian Ocean as a bridge, not a barrier, and we are seeking to enhance a comprehensive partnership that guarantees a fair share of all countries, north and south, in the security and prosperity of this vital region.”
In the same context, the President of the India Foundation, Ram Madhaf, reviewed the pivotal role of the Indian Ocean in the global economy, through which 70% of global maritime trade passes, but he faces increasing challenges such as piracy, maritime terrorism, overfishing, human trafficking and climate change.
He stressed that facing these challenges requires strengthening cooperation between countries and regional and international organizations.
For his part, the Undersecretary of the Omani Ministry of Transport and Communications, Khamis bin Muhammad Al -Shammakhi, explained that hosting the conference reflects the strategic geographical location of the Sultanate, and its strong relations with the countries overlooking the Indian Ocean.
He pointed out that Muscat is currently seeking to enhance its role in international organizations on the marine side, and he said, “There are efforts between several parties, including the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, to transform into green movement, green ports and marine corridors.”
Protecting the marine environment
The Indian Ocean is one of the largest marine environments in the world, as it includes rich environmental systems that include crustaceans, small fish and whales, as well as perennial organisms and coral reefs that play a major role in absorbing carbon dioxide.
The conference represents an opportunity to exchange visions on the best ways to protect these environmental systems and enhance their sustainability, according to the head of the Omani Environment Authority Abdullah bin Ali Al -Omari, who stressed the importance of regional and international cooperation to preserve the oceans and environmental balance.
Over two days, the conference discussed several main axes, including maritime trade, energy security, technological innovation and the promotion of marine supply chains.
Foreign ministers of 27 countries also presented their visions on joint security challenges, and ways to enhance cooperation in the Indian Ocean to achieve effective and sustainable partnerships.
The “iOC” conference is a prominent international platform and forum, whose first version was launched in 2016, becoming a main square to enhance cooperation between the countries of the Indian Ocean and global forces with strategic interests in the region, and countries such as the Sultanate, India, Sri Lanka, Australia and Singapore have played pivotal roles in its activities.
