India offers support in tackling sea threats

Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday offered her country's cooperation to countries on the rim of the Indian Ocean.
While inaugurating a three-day international conference, titled 'India and Indian Ocean: Renewing the maritime trade and civilisational linkages', she highlighted India's vision of future.
"Our vision for the Indian Ocean region is built on fostering increasing cooperation in our region and use of our capabilities for the benefit of all," she said.
The region extends from African coasts to West Asia, South Asia and South East Asia and touches Australia. Bangladesh is a member-state of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
Ms Swaraj said, "We will prosper only when the seas are safe, secure and free for all. We strongly believe those who live in this region have the primary responsibility for peace, stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean."
Referring indirectly to the countries like Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the Indian external affairs minister said the Indian Ocean has acquired a new dimension with the shift of global economic engines to Asia.
There has been sustained economic growth in the countries on the littoral of the Indian Ocean, and there has been growing global stakes and presence in the region.She recognised that oceans and seas are now witnessing threats like natural disasters, piracy, terrorism, illegal fishing, oil spills and effects of climate change.
The minister extended New Delhi's cooperation to all member-states of IORA, and said India is looking forward to building closer cooperation in the maritime domain, regularising maritime exercises and strengthening dialogues among the navies and the coast-guards of all countries in the Indian Ocean region.
IORA officials told the FE that the Indian Ocean now carries one half of the world's container shipments, one-third of the bulk cargo traffic and two-thirds of the oil shipments, though three-fourths of this traffic goes to other regions of the world.
To highlight her government's eagerness to strengthen maritime cooperation with all littoral countries, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has recently visited Seychelles, Mauritius and Sri Lanka. Ms Swaraj too visited most of the countries of the region.
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