Thrust on tapping  potential of blue economy

Bangladesh will host the third Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Blue Economy Ministerial Conference in the capital city of Dhaka on September 5.  
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the conference but a working session will be held on September 4 prior to the conference day.
The IORA is a regional forum, based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic Cooperation particularly on Trade Facilitation and Investment, Promotion as well as Social Development of the region.
 "Prime Minister stressed the need for tapping the huge potentials of sea and sea resources through proper management to ensure sustainable development, for that this conference will be time demanding and effective approach to create mass awareness on the marine-based economic activities through Blue Economy," a senior official of the Foreign Ministry told the Daily Observer on Monday.
Meanwhile, Foreign Ministers from Australia, Iran and     Sri Lanka will attend the conference, the Foreign Ministry confirmed.
Minister for Foreign Affairs of Comoros, Kenyan Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, Mauritius Minister for Ocean Economy, Madagascar Minister for Agriculture and Livestock, Maldives Minister for Marine Resources, South African Deputy Minister for Environment and Forest, Somalian State Minister for Foreign Affairs and a Deputy Minister of Thailand have also confirmed their participation, according to a senior official of the Foreign Ministry.
 "We identified various areas of blue economy such as aquaculture, marine tourism, private sector's involvement in infrastructure, port network, financial inclusion, the sustainable exploration and exploitation of various living and non-living resources from the seas and tackling the menace of marine pollution and plastic debris, the official said.
The main objectives would be to promote smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and employment opportunities in the blue economy activities along the Indian Ocean belt, he added.
The blue economy offers unlimited prospects via sea ports, navigation, fishing, marine plants, oil and gas, mineral resources, new land and islands surfacing in the waters, sea tourism, and other possibilities for growth and employment, he added.
The member states are Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Japan, Germany, China, the UK, the US, France and Egypt are the dialogue partners.
On Sep 5, the conference will adopt the 'Dhaka Declaration' and other documents aimed to illustrate the commitment of IORA member states to further strengthen and deepen cooperation on blue economy priority areas in the years ahead.