Conference of IOR countries from March 20

Odisha Channel Bureau Bhubaneswar, Mar 7: Socio-cultural similarities, civilisational linkages, exciting facts on ancient maritime trade, security and the future potential of trade and blue economy in Indian Ocean region will be explored by eminent scholars, researchers and experts in a three-day-long international conference titled `India & the Indian Ocean: Renewing the Maritime Trade & Civilisational Linkages’ to be held at Bhubaneswar from March 20 to 22.Union External Affairs Sushma Swaraj is scheduled to inaugurate the conference with Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan who is the chief patron of the conference.Many other dignitaries will attend the inaugural session.Mahesh Sharma, Union Minister of State for Tourism & Culture Mahesh Sharma will chair the first plenary session titled ‘Historical Linkages and Cultural Networks in IORA’ on the second day of the conference.Union Minister of State for Commerce & Industry Nirmala Sitharaman will also chair a plenary session titled ‘Regional Maritime & Energy Security in Indian Ocean region’.Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar will grace the event as the Chief Guest in the valedictory session on the concluding day.Briefing journalists about the event, Pradhan said that with its rich maritime trade history Odisha has been selected to host this conference as part of the current Central Government policy of holding major activities in the state capitals and cities of related states instead of concentrating all at the National Capital.The conference will certainly place Odisha up in the International trade map while simultaneously giving a boost to sectors like tourism, shipping and export trade, he added. He informed that commemorating the occasion as well as thousand year coronation of Rajendra Chola I, a special postal stamp will be released by India Post during the conference.Besides, it has been decided with the concurrence of Finance Ministry to make a special coin commemorating the occasion, he added. Twenty nations from the region, popularly known as Indian Ocean Rim Countries, will participate in this three day deliberations covering vital aspects of trade, maritime security and civilisational linkages.The conference is supported by eight Ministries of the Government of India – External Affairs, Petroleum & Natural Gas, Power, Shipping, Commerce & Industry, Culture, Tourism and Agriculture.Representatives from more than 20 countries, including India, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Thailand, Mauritius, Indonesia, Malaysia, Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Myanmar, Madagascar, Singapore, Yemen, Oman, Iran, and Cambodia are expected to attend the conference.The Conference is being organized by the Institute of Social and Cultural Studies (ISCS) jointly with Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS).