The current chair of IOCINDIO, Bangladesh hosted the Ninth Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Regional Committee for the Central Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO-IX) at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka on 28-30 March 2023. Forty-one delegates from 14 countries including Bangladesh, individual observers and representatives from IOC-UNESCO Secretariat, Indian Ocean Commission and World Bank attended the session.
Foreign Minister of Bangladesh Dr. A. K. Abdul Momen, MP delivered the opening remarks and announced the inauguration of IOCINDIO-IX this morning through a video message.
In his speech, Foreign Minister spoke about the paramount significance of Indian Ocean to the region for security, connectivity, peace and prosperity. He also recognized the role of IOCINDIO as a facilitator in the Indian Ocean region to promote ocean knowledge, sustained observations and services for the improvement of ocean governance towards a healthy ocean and coasts for prosperity in this region. He projected Bangladesh’s unwavering commitment to make whole-hearted efforts to transform the Committee of IOCINDIO into a Sub-Commission.
The current chair of IOCINDIO, Rear Admiral Md. Khurshed Alam, Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is conducting the 3-day long session. For next two days, the participants will discuss various issues relating to IOCINDIO priority programs and projects, recent developments of UNESCO and IOC, IOCINDIO activities of 2021-2023, blue economy, marine biodiversity conservation, ocean ecosystem and human health, UN Decade of Ocean Science, IOCINDIO work plan and budget for 2023–2025 and other important issues.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh Mr. Md. Shahriar Alam, MP delivered the concluding remarks on the final day 30 March 2023 of the three-day long Ninth Intergovernmental Session of the IOC Regional Committee for the Central Indian Ocean (IOCINDIO-IX) hosted by Bangladesh in Dhaka.
State Minister appreciated the progress on implementation of the Committee’s work plan since its last session; global ocean-related developments including the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development and the efforts for elevating this Committee into a Sub-Commission.
He congratulated the newly elected Chair and two Vice-Chairs of IOCINDIO. Rear Admiral (retd) Md. Khurshed Alam, Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit) of Ministry of Foreign Affairs was re-elected as Chair of IOCINDIO for 2023-2025 Term.
