DHAKA, May 12, 2023 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today inaugurated the two-day 6th Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) here aimed at strengthening cooperation among the countries of the region. 
 
She opened the sixth edition of the conference at a city hotel, being organised by India Foundation in association with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Government of Bangladesh.
 
Ministerial-level delegations from at least 25 countries are taking part in the conference. Bangladesh is the current Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association.
 
Bangladesh expects that the sixth edition of the conference will make a number of recommendations to face problems and challenges of the Indian Ocean region that will play a vital role in formulating future work plans for this area. 
 
The partnership of Bangladesh with the countries in the Indian Ocean will become stronger through hosting the IOC. 
 
Mauritius president, minister and state minister-level delegations from 25 countries, including Indian external affairs minister, are attending the conference. 
 
Besides, around 150 foreign guests including representatives from D8, SAARC and BIMSTEC are participating in the conference. Myanmar was not invited to the conference.

In the inaugural session, Mauritius president Prithvirajsing Roopun, Vice-President of Maldives Faisal Nassem, External Affairs Minister of India Dr S Jaishankar, Minister in the Prime Minister's Office and Second Minister of Foreign Affairs of Singapore and Dr Maliki Osman, also spoke.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen spoke virtually while State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam was present on the dias. 
 
The Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will also host a dinner in honour of the guests.
 
With the theme of "Peace, Prosperity and Partnership for a Resilient Future", the conference would bring together key stakeholders to chart the roadmap for strengthening the Indian Ocean Region.
 
The Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) was started in 2016 and in the last six years it has emerged as the "Flagship Consultative Forum" for countries in the region on regional affairs.
 
The conference endeavours to bring critical states and principal maritime partners of the region together on a common platform to deliberate upon the prospects of regional cooperation for Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).