Page 8 - Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) 2021

C ONC EP T NO TE
The Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) announced by the Government of India
is an open, inclusive, non-treaty-based global initiative for mitigating challenges
especially in the maritime domain through practical cooperation in seven thematic
areas: (a) Maritime Security; (b) Maritime Ecology; (c) Maritime Resources;
(d) Capacity Building and Resource Sharing; (e) Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management; (f) Science, Technology and Academic Cooperation; and (g) Trade,
Connectivity and Maritime Transport.
The IPOI builds upon the “Security and Growth for All in the Region” (SAGAR)
initiative announced by Prime Minister Modi in 2015 which encourages States to
enhance efforts towards conservation and sustainable use of the maritime domain,
and to take meaningful steps to create a safe, secure and stable maritime domain.

The IPOI seeks to build a sense of community by creating new partnerships with
like-minded countries spanning the expanse from the shores of East Africa to the
western Pacific Ocean. India is encouraging other countries to join the IPOI and also
lead some thematic areas under the Initiative.
The MEA has nominated the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) as one of the
Knowledge Partners/Think-Tanks for promotion and implementation of some of
the pillars of the IPOI. The ICWA plans to hold National Consultations by engaging
Indian experts and stakeholders associated with the seven pillars of the IPOI
through consultations.

The seven pillars of the IPOI cover a wide spectrum of issues and aim at practical
cooperation spanning the ‘security-development-capacity building’ continuum
in diverse areas spanning security, safety, resource development, science and
technology, resilient infrastructure and marine environment-ecology.
Each pillar of the IPOI involves significant issues. However, given the limitation of
time, ICWA has selected few specific issues under the various pillars for the National
Consultations. National Consultations will also seek to identify other issues under
the seven pillars which are of priority and need to be accorded due attention. ICWA
also plans to supplement the National Consultations with commissioned discussion
papers authored by subject matter experts on IPOI-relevant themes.
In the National Consultations, Session 1 will focus on the IPOI pillar on ‘Maritime
Security’. Cooperation is the ‘mantra’ for a peaceful and stable maritime domain;
however, there is growing evidence of geopolitical and geostrategic contestation in
the Indo-Pacific region particularly in South China Sea. The issues to be covered in
this session are: (a) Maritime Domain Awareness is a critical element for responding

National Consultations on
8 Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)