Page 9 - Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) 2021

to traditional and non-traditional security threats and challenges as also supporting
the development of the Blue Economy; and (b) Naval Confidence Building Measures
(NCBMs) and Incidents at Sea Agreements (INCSEA) among regional navies have
now become indispensable for a free and open Indo-Pacific.
Session 2 is related to ‘Maritime Ecology’ and ‘Maritime Resources’ in the Indo-
Pacific region. The UN has emphasised on the health of the oceans and seas, and
called on Member States to protect the marine and coastal ecosystems. Its focus is
also on unsustainable procedures and practices including Illegal, Unreported and
Unregulated (IUU) fishing causing major depletions in fish stocks. This necessitates
balancing economic interests with the potential environmental damage. The two
issues for deliberation in this session are: (a) Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution; and
(b) Sustainable Management of Fish stocks and IUU Fishing.
Session 3 is on ‘Capacity Building and Resource Sharing’ and ‘Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management’. In this session, two important issues for discussion
are (a) Financing Blue Economy; and (b) Vulnerability of Coastal Urban Centre
and Commercial Infrastructure. Many Indo-Pacific countries have instituted and
promoted national initiatives for the development of Blue Economy but may not
have the necessary fiscal resources which may require public-private partnerships
including innovative financing options. The session will also highlight the wide
spectrum of natural hazards and daunting challenges that adversely impact human
development in the Indo-Pacific region. It will also focus on Disaster Risk Reduction
(DRR) and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) as tools for policy planning at national
and regional levels.

Session 4 is on ‘Science & Technology and Academic Cooperation’ and ‘Trade,
Connectivity and Maritime Transport’. There is strong evidence of the expanding
use of Industry 4.0 technologies for marine data management and scientists,
industries and businesses are investing in these disruptive technologies to obtain
better knowledge of the oceans and seas. The session will also highlight issues of
trade facilitation, connectivity and value chain linkages which require cooperation
among Indo-Pacific countries.

3 September 2021 | Sapru House, New Delhi 9