Foreign minister AK Abdul Momen on Sunday called for developing a cooperative mechanism among the littoral states of the Indian Ocean to promote collaboration for reaping maximum benefits of the blue economy.
‘Bangladesh believes that the regional vision for the blue economy must be supported by a balanced integration of the economic, social and environmental elements of development,’ he told the Indian Ocean Rim Association Business Forum Leadership Summit at a city hotel.
Momen said optimal use of the marine resources— categorised as blue economy— has been recognised as one of the key components of sustainable development.
Chairman of the Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum Sheikh Fazle Fahim and secretary-general IORA ambassador Salman Al Farisi also spoke at the programme.
IORA member states are Australia, Bangladesh, Union of Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Republic of Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
Bangladesh, as the current chair of IORA, is going to host the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Ministers with the theme— Harnessing the opportunities of the Indian Ocean sustainably for inclusive development — on November 24.
