Preparatory meet held ahead of Indian Ocean nations’ summit in Odisha

Sambad English Bureau Published On : Mar 18, 2015 at 9:34 PM

Odisha Sun Times Bureau:
Bhubaneswar, Mar 18:

The reception Committee of three day-long international conference titled “India & the Indian Ocean: Renewing the Maritime Trade & Civilisational Linkages”, to be held in Odisha’s capital city from March 20 to 22, organized a preparatory meeting today.

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Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, the patron in chief, making the announcement about the three-day conference at a press conference in Bhubaneswar on March 7

The committee discussed ways to make the conference a truly global event and ensure that the development of civilisational linkages and maritime history of Odisha is adequately reflected during the deliberations.

Reception committee head and Moortidevi Awardee writer Haraprasad Das presided over the meeting while many eminent personalities, including Padmashree (Smt) Kumkum Mohanty, sculptor Padmashree Sudarshan Sahu, former Diplomat Abasar Beuria IFS (Rtd), Jagadananda, mentor, CYSD, Dr. Kshiti Bhusan Das of the Utkal University and leading Theatre personality Ananta Mohapatra, were present.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik is slated to be the chief guest at the conference and inaugural address will be delivered by Minister of External Affairs, Govt. of India Sushma Swaraj. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan, who is also the patron of the conference, will attend as the guest of honour. Among other delegates, IORA Secretary General, Ambassador K.V. Bhagirath, and BIMSTEC, Dhaka, Secretary General, Sumith Nakandala will be present.

On the second day of event, panel discussions will be held on historical linkages and cultural networks in IORA, regional maritime and energy security in the Indian Ocean region, trade linkages, religion and literature, migration and Diaspora in the Indian Ocean Realm Maritime and Humanitarian issues, climate change and sustainable development.

On the third day of the event, panel discussions will be held on regional economic cooperation in trade and investment in IORA region, sectoral cooperation, blue economy, B2B etc.

Governor of Odisha Dr. S C Jamir, Uunion Minister for Defence Manohar Parrikar, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas, Government of India Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry Nirmala Sitharaman, secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs (ER) Ms. Sujata Mehta will be present at the valedictory session of the event. This three-day long conference will also be followed by several cultural programmes by eminent artists of Odisha.