BHUBANSWAR (Orissa), Mar 21: The Coordinating Secretariat of IORA is located at Ebene in the Indian island state Mauritius.
The Indian readiness for cooperation with its neighbours stems from history. Its shared cultural and civilization trends with this region have had a palpable effect of turning it into an area of similarities.
Examples of this civilization interchange abound: the continuing veneration of Rama IX of Chakri dynasty, or the ancient kingdom of Ayutthaya in Thailand. Furthermore, the reigning deity of the Temple of Prasat Preah Vihara of Cambodia is Lord Shiva, and the biggest temple of the world at Angkor Wat of Cambodia is dedicated to Lord Vishnu, while the main influence of Lord Buddha on these countries is quite well-known.
Then, Dharmendra pointed out, during last few centuries, there had been substantial migration of people from one country to the other for various reasons. And due to such migration, there had been cultural exchange and assimilation between diverse societies.
The Indian minister said most researchers and scholars have noted that, during last two thousand years, this region has come under the influence of practically all major civilizations of the world. And, among these, Indian culture appears to have blended best with respective indigenous cultures. This civilization exchange has enabled creating in this region 'a family likeness' in this part of the globe.
Mr Dharmendra Pradhan said since the dawn of civilization, maritime capabilities and linkages through sea had been there between different kingdoms and countries of the Indian Ocean region.
In this context, the Indian Ocean-the only ocean by the name of a country-had assisted in spreading the exchange of civilization far and wide.
Rajendra Chola, the great Chola king of Southern India, proves this argument. During the reign of Rajendra Chola, his empire controlled the ocean trade to the Far East by controlling principal ports that dotted the Malacca Strait region.
Rajendra Chola's influence is said to have extended up to the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean (during his reign, it was referred to as the Chola Lake).
In an interesting coincidence, this year (2014-15) observes the 1000th year of Rajendra Chola's ascension to the throne of the Chola Empire.
The ancient maritime exploration around Indian Ocean, the Indian Minister noted, was more in the nature of trade, which did make impact both on the economy and the culture.
This civilization bondage, evolved through an organic and gradual process, had proved beneficial to various civilization groups.
With this historical background and in accordance with the grand initiatives related to international cooperation taken by the government of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS), a major think-tank based in Kolkata, and Delhi's RIS have organized the international conference titled 'India & the Indian Ocean: Renewing the Maritime Trade & Civilization Linkage'.
Mr Dharmendra said trade potential in the Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) region of which Bangladesh is a part is not fully exhausted and there exists high degrees of trade complementarity among the IOR economies.
There is pressing need for discussing trade issues like manufacturing sector, regional production network, protectionism, sub-regional cooperation etc in a regional cooperation framework.
In this context, he observed, the time is ripe for engaging in regular dialogues among the member-countries for broader and deeper engagements in future.
"The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) could be an effective forum for drawing precious lessons of each other for mutual benefit of the peoples of the region," the Indian minister said.
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