Vice President Faisal Naseem this evening called for united efforts and strengthened partnerships to safeguard the resilience and security of the Indian Ocean region. He made the remarks speaking as the Guest of Honour at the inaugural session of the fifth Indian Ocean Conference (IOC) 2021.
The two-day conference kicked off in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday under the theme “Indian Ocean: Ecology, Economy and Epidemic.” Addressing the delegates, the Vice President emphasised that, with the Indian Ocean being an important trading hub directly connected to our economic well-being, President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih and his administration accords high priority to the security of the region. It is “the most important item on [President Solih’s] foreign policy agenda,” he said.
He went on to note that the ever-growing threats of trans-border terrorism, piracy, narco-trafficking as well as non-traditional security threats such as climate change, cyber security and human trafficking, all require the support and cooperation of all regional and international partners.
“No one country can safeguard the resilience and security of the Indian Ocean region alone,” he added.
The Vice President also briefed the delegates on the current Covid-19 situation in the Maldives. He said that the Maldives had been able to open its borders to tourists and attain some degree of normalcy. He noted that this could not have been achieved without our well-planned health regulations and robust vaccination campaign.
“Based on the principle of equality, all residents of the Maldives are eligible to receive vaccines regardless of their social status,” he said. “We believe that equitable access to vaccines is vital to stop the Covid-19 pandemic.”
On the topic of meeting the goals of the UN Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development, the Vice President stressed on the importance of ramping up efforts to to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor. “Regional trade must be promoted, mutually beneficial Foreign Direct Investment must be further incentivised, and we must support each other to strengthen our governance systems,” he said, was the way forward.
The Vice President also touched on the topic of climate change and the outcomes of the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26). Though the Maldives contributes little to heat-trapping emissions, it, alongside other small island states, face the brunt of the devastating consequences of climate change.
“This is simply unjust. We cannot remain idle. It is high time that we take action,” exclaimed the Vice President, assuring the delegates that the Maldives is doing its part by committing to achieve net-zero by 2030, putting efforts towards better waste management and greener sources of energy, and developing a blue economy that protects our vulnerable oceans, lagoons and mangroves.
Concluding his remarks, the Vice President called on the rest of the world to take action, stressing that “our shared future depends on it.”
IOC 2021, organised by India Foundation, was officially inaugurated by S. Jaishankar, the External Affairs Minister of India. Day two of the conference would feature plenary sessions. Following the inaugural session, the Vice President attended the welcome dinner hosted in honour of the delegates by Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of UAE.
