Panaji, Feb 17 (NationPress) Minister of State (MoS) for Defence, Sanjay Seth, is set to collaborate with maritime security specialists from the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) to devise solutions for current challenges at the fifth edition of the Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC-26) on February 21, as announced by an official on Tuesday.

The event will take place at the Naval War College in Goa, where Admiral Dinesh K. Tripathi, Chief of the Naval Staff, will welcome Chiefs of Navies, heads of maritime forces, and senior delegates from 14 nations, according to the statement.

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', highlighting the critical need for synergy, collaboration, and coordination among maritime nations with vested interests in the Indian Ocean Region.

Representatives from Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and Tanzania are expected to attend the Conclave.

The forum will include discussions led by distinguished speakers and experts focusing on the real-time exchange of maritime information and collaborative efforts to enhance maritime capabilities.

Admiral Arun Prakash (Retd), former Chief of the Naval Staff, will present the keynote address.

The Goa Maritime Symposium (GMS) and Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC) were established in 2016 and 2017, respectively, to promote collaborative thinking and mutual understanding between India and key maritime nations of the IOR, aligning with the vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

The Conclave remains a significant platform for formulating and executing cooperative solutions to maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region.

The maritime landscape in the IOR faces a broad range of both traditional and non-traditional challenges, which have notable repercussions for regional security and livelihoods.

Threats such as maritime terrorism, contraband smuggling, Illegal, Unregulated and Unreported (IUU) fishing, piracy, armed robbery, and irregular migration continue to threaten the goal of safe and secure seas.

Emerging issues like climate change, cyber threats, and dark shipping exacerbate these risks. The transnational and multi-faceted nature of these threats calls for enhanced cooperation and robust collaborative mechanisms among partner nations.