Online Desk: Dhaka will host the sixth edition of the Indian Ocean Conference on May 12-13, which will bring high-level government delegations and think tanks from at least 25 countries to discuss strengthening cooperation among the regional countries.

Mauritius President Prithvirajsing Roopun, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, among others will attend the conference. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate the conference at a city hotel on May 12. She will also host a dinner in honour of the guests who will participate in the conference.

Briefing reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs today, Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said around 150 foreign guests will participate in the conference including representatives from D8, Saarc and BIMSTEC.

The participating ministers will also visit Bangabandhu Memorial Museum at Dhanmondi road 32 to pay respect to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. The conference is being organised by the India Foundation in association with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

With the theme of “Peace, Prosperity and Partnership for a Resilient Future”, the conference will bring together a gathering of key stakeholders to chart the roadmap for strengthening the Indian Ocean region. The Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) was started in 2016 and in the last six years it has emerged as the “flagship consultative forum” for countries in the region over regional affairs.

The conference endeavours to bring critical states and principal maritime partners of the region together on a common platform to deliberate upon the prospects of regional cooperation for Security And Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).