The Third Ministerial Conference on Maritime Security and Safety in the Western Indian Ocean was opened on Thursday 16th of November in Balaclava, Mauritius. The Conference is being organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). The Prime Minister, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, the Attorney General, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration, and International Trade, Mr Maneesh Gobin; the Secretary General of the IOC, Prof. Vêlayoudom Marimoutou; the Director General, United Nations Office of Nairobi, Ms Zainab Hawa Bangura; and other personalities were also present for the opening ceremony.
In his opening statement, Prime Minister, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth said that there can be no significant improvement in maritime security and capability without the enduring and committed support of the international community, including our development cooperation partners who, like us, have vital stakes in our cherished ocean.
Prime Minister Jugnauth highlighted that the maritime sector is roving through substantial changes, triggered by factors which are mostly beyond our control. He observed that there is thus a need to pursue, together, this voyage towards ensuring a sustainable maritime sector, free from threats and tension.
The Conference, stated Mr Jugnauth, is testimony to the importance that we all attach to maritime security and it reflects the collective commitment, as one community, to ensure safe and secure seas at a time when, for various reasons, maritime security concerns in this region have intensified. He underscored that strategic competition among States; transnational issues such as illicit and criminal activities, including illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; terrorism, drugs, arms and human trafficking; oil spills; wildlife trafficking; and waste dumping, amongst others, are challenges facing the Western Indian Ocean.
Prime Minister Jugnauth further seized this opportunity to emphasise on the merits for growing the blue economy in a sustainable, inclusive, and people-centred manner. He also reiterated that common vision and ambition, best practices, and the optimum use of existing and innovative financial instruments and mechanisms are key for the successful harnessing of ocean resources.
Moreover, he remarked that the enhancement of maritime security in the region greatly depends on the strengthening of port security as well as the consolidation of maritime safety management systems in harbours. As such, the proposal to formulate a Regional Policy on Ports Security and Safety of Navigation is indeed fitting and long overdue, he added.
As for Minister Gobin, he underlined that Small Island Developing States (SIDS), including Mauritius, are stewards and custodians of vast ocean areas, as they hold jurisdiction over nearly 30% of the world’s Exclusive Economic Zone. He also emphasised that, as is the case for large Oceanic States, these SIDS have a critical interest in protecting the health of the oceans and, in doing so, the health of the planet as well.
For his part, IOC’s Secretary General indicated that cooperation is needed as no State can tackle maritime threats alone. Mr Marimoutou thus appealed to all participants to share experiences, especially to be more effective in the fight against drug trafficking, marine pollution, and other illicit activities in the region.
Ms Bangura, for her part, said that the Conference aims at ensuring the sustainability and peaceful use of the oceans, as well as safeguarding the maritime domain from both traditional and evolving threats. It is also an illustration of the collective determination to identify ways of advancing multilateralism and cooperation, while cementing partnerships for increased stability and prosperity in the region, she added.
