New Delhi: The fourth edition of the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue (IPRD), an apex-level international annual conference of the Indian Navy, is all set to begin in New Delhi from Wednesday.
The theme of IPRD-2022 is ‘Operationalising the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)’, which was articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bangkok, at the 14th East Asia Summit (EAS) on 4 November 2019, the defence ministry said in a statement.
The IPRD seeks to foster exchange of ideas and promote deliberations on regionally relevant maritime issues.
The IPRD is an apex level international annual conference of the Indian Navy, and is the principal manifestation of the Navy’s engagement at the strategic-level. The National Maritime Foundation (NMF) is the Navy’s knowledge partner and chief organizer of each edition of the event.
“Being a Track 1.5 event that aims to encourage discussions on public policy, the IPRD endeavors for a balanced representation from government and non-government agencies and institutions,” the statement said.
The first two editions of IPRD were held in 2018 and 2019 respectively at New Delhi. IPRD 2020 was cancelled due to Covid-19 outbreak.
The third edition of the IPRD was held online in 2021.
The fourth edition of the IPRD is scheduled to be held from November 23 to 25.
“The aim of each successive edition of the IPRD is to review both opportunities and challenges that arise within the Indo-Pacific. Through this annual dialogue, the Indian Navy and the NMF continue to provide a platform for incisive discussions pertaining to the geopolitical developments affecting the maritime domain of the Indo-Pacific,” the statement said.
The IPOI (Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative) is a comprehensive and inclusive construct for regional cooperation that is focused on seven interconnected spokes or pillars — maritime security, maritime ecology, maritime resources, disaster risk-reduction and management, trade connectivity and maritime transport, capacity building and resource sharing, and science, technology and academic cooperation.
The Indian Navy being the lead maritime security agency of the government, is deeply invested in the actualization of each of the seven spokes or pillars of the IPOI, the statement said.
IPRD-2022 is appropriately centered upon the IPOI and its operationalization, with particular but not exclusive focus upon the pillars of ‘Maritime Security’.
It will be conducted in physical format in New Delhi, through six professional sessions spread over the three-day period from 23 to 25 Nov, it added.
As part of the event, globally renowned speakers and eminent panellists will explore how the areas of maritime cooperation envisaged in the IPOI could be optimally and inclusively operationalized.
