PM to inaugurate Indian Ocean Naval Symposium

New Delhi, Feb 14: Prime Minster Dr. Manmohan Singh will inaugurate the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) - 2008 here today. IONS, one of the biggest conglomerations of Navy heads, is aimed at evolving joint strategy to face maritime threat in the strategically significant region.

Twenty-nine nations are expected to participate in the symposium that will be conducted in two parts, with a two-day seminar here followed by a two-day conclave in Goa for the naval chiefs of the participating countries. Delegations from Eritrea, Brazil, Seychelles, Kuwait, Qatar, Mauritius, Malagasy, Myanmar, Oman, Sri Lanka, the UAE, Kenya, Djibouti, Egypt, Mozambique, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Malaysia, Maldives, Indonesia, Australia, Thailand and France will attend the seminar.

The 12-member Saudi delegation is headed by Vice Admiral Prince Fahd bin Abdullah Al Saud, Commander of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. The Singapore delegation is headed by Rear Admiral CHEW Men Leong, Chief of the Navy, Republic of Singapore Navy, was received by Rear Admiral HCS Bisht.

The seminar is being jointly conducted by the Indian Navy and the National Maritime Foundation. The symposium will enable Indian Ocean nations to address their problems without external assistance.

ANI