S. Jaishankar to represent India at 7th Indian Ocean Conference

India will participate in the ‘Indian Ocean Conference’ to be held in Australia on 9-10 February 2024. This is the 7th edition of this conference to be held in Perth, Australia. India will be represented by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar at the 7th Indian Ocean Conference.

Organiser of Indian Ocean Conference:

• This two-day conference is organized annually mainly by the India Foundation of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. The 7th edition has many participants, most prominently
  • Australia Government
  • S Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore
  • Perth-US Asia Centre in Australia.

Theme of the 7th Indian Ocean Conference:

• The theme of this edition is "Towards a stable and sustainable Indian Ocean". 
• It is expected to bring together key stakeholders to prepare a roadmap to strengthen regional cooperation.

Highlights of the 7th Indian Ocean Conference:

• The conference will also include delegations led by ministers from more than 22 countries and senior officials from 16 countries and 6 multilateral organizations. These mainly include: 
  • Foreign Minister S Jaishankar
  • Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe
  • Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong
  • Foreign Minister of Singapore, Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan.
• Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced last year that Australia would host the Indian Ocean Conference 2024. The Australian High Commissioner to India is Philip Green.

About Indian Ocean Conference:

• The conference, a major consultative forum for the countries of the Indian Ocean region, is organized annually by the Ministry of External Affairs in collaboration with the India Foundation.
• The organization of the Indian Ocean Conference started from Singapore in the year 2016 in which 30 countries participated.
• The sixth Indian Ocean Conference was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh last year in May 2023. Over the past six years, the conference has emerged as a consultative forum for countries in the region on regional matters.
• The upcoming conference in Perth, Western Australia not only expands on this legacy but also emphasizes the geopolitical and economic dynamism of the region.

Importance of Western Australia, Perth for India:

• Perth is the largest city in Western Australia, and holds an important position due to its connection to the Indian Ocean.
• With a large population of Indian origin, Perth serves as a bridge between Australia and India. Conference promotes cultural exchange and economic cooperation.
• The Perth-USAsia Center's participation in the conference highlights Australia's strategic importance to the Indian Ocean region.
• As a center it focused on geopolitical and strategic studies, its contribution to the discussions is expected to provide valuable insights into the emerging dynamics of the region.

About Australia:

• Capital: Canberra
• Currency: Australian Dollar
• Prime Minister: Anthony Albanese