The Pathfinder Foundation (PF), in collaboration with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue of Switzerland (CFHD), is set to co-host the fourth annual Bay of Bengal Maritime Dialogue in Colombo on May 7 and 8. The event is expected to gather approximately 50 delegates from BIMSTEC and IORA member states, including Indonesia and Malaysia. The dialogue aims to bring together experts and researchers specializing in maritime governance, maritime crisis management, sustainable fisheries, disaster management, and other key issues affecting the Bay of Bengal and its diverse stakeholders.
At the core of this dialogue is the creation of an informal platform for discussing maritime affairs in the Bay of Bengal region and exploring avenues for enhancing regional cooperation. The upcoming dialogue intends to build on previous initiatives by identifying new opportunities for collaboration while addressing potential challenges to constructive engagement among the region’s coastal nations.
The discussions during the event will cover a range of topics, including Maritime Crisis Management and Communication, Harmonizing Regional Frameworks for Maritime Governance and cooperation, Transboundary Fisheries management, and disaster management in the Bay of Bengal, among others. The outcomes of the dialogue will be shared with the secretariats of BIMSTEC and IORA, as well as their member states.
The Keynote address will be delivered by President of the India Foundation, Ram Madhav, with Secretary General Ambassador Indra Mani Pandey of BIMSTEC addressing the preliminary session. The opening ceremony will be attended by heads of diplomatic missions based in Colombo representing BIMSTEC and IORA member states, along with countries outside the Bay of Bengal region but with a keen interest in its affairs, including China, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.