From left: Aitken Spence , Chief Operating Officer -Freight Sector and Assistant Vice President Business Development - Maritime, Freight and Logistics Sector, Dhashma Karunaratne , Colombo West International Terminal Pvt Ltd CEO Harikrishshan Sundaram,  International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Head of London Convention, Protocol and Ocean Affairs Dr.Fredrik Haag,  Mapital Maharaja Group Executive Group Director Chevaan Daniel, Dean of Faculty of Fisheries and Marine Science and Technology Prof.Ruchira Cumaratunga and Maersk Lanka Pvt Ltd Managing Director  Biju Ravi - Pic by Nimalsiri Edirisinghe

By Nishel Fernando
Key maritime sector stakeholders and experts emphasized on collaborative and collective efforts to enhance sustainability, security, ocean conservation and maritime law to meet evolving challenges while harnessing emerging opportunities in the vibrant maritime region of the Indian Ocean.
The Indian Ocean Strategic Research Centre (IOCSRC)  in collaboration with Women in Logistics and Transport (WiLAT) has initiated the much-needed collective consultative regional discourse to address challenges and opportunities evolving in this vibrant maritime region of the Indian Ocean. The inaugural Collective Consultative Event under the theme of ‘India Ocean’s Integral Role to Shape Global Prosperity, Peace and Ocean Conservation’ was held in Colombo last week.
This event saw the participation of interdisciplinary stakeholders, global leaders, experts and academics, who united with the goal of achieving unhampered prosperity, peace and preservation of oceanic wealth, to benefit nations and generations to follow.
Delivering the opening remarks, Conference Chair and Aitken Spence , Chief Operating Officer - Freight Sector and Assistant Vice President Business Development -Maritime, Freight and Logistics Sector, Dhashma Karunaratne highlighted the importance of Indian Ocean maritime, which has evolved to become a  critical sea artery causing exponential sea traffic.
Spanning nearly half the globe, the Indian Ocean Region is made up of 38 countries, consisting of both developing and advanced economies. It contributes to 30 percent of the Global Oceanic Area and is home to 30 percent of the world’s population. 

The region is rich in resources, with 40 percent of the world’s offshore oil production coming from the Indian Ocean and boasts of immense potential for Alternative Fuels. The region hosts more than 20 of the world’s busiest ports and accounts for 13 percent of world trade. Indian Ocean Region is critical to global trade, and trade binds these diverse communities together,” she elaborated. 
However, Karunaratne pointed out that there are serious concerns on sustainability due to uneven development across the region, in particular limited opportunities for women in economic participation.
“…. women’s labour force participation is at very low levels. Even though a number of countries in the region are among the wealthiest in the world, others experience extremely high poverty rates, unemployment and limited opportunities for women’s economic participation.”
“Through this partnership between WiLAT and IOSRC we will collaborate to remove barriers to women’s labour force participation and will invest in women’s economic empowerment, which in turn will drive productivity and a higher GDP,” she stressed.
Joining the panel discussion, Colombo West International Terminal (WCT) Pvt Ltd CEO Harikrishshan Sundaram remarked that new evolving technologies surrounding the maritime sector would unlock opportunities for greater female participation in this largely male-dominated sector. 

He stressed that Adani will be focusing on providing equal opportunities for females in the upcoming WCT, which is under construction. In particular, he noted that Adani-led WCT would be equipped with latest cranes which can be operated remotely and hence removing gender biases in recruitment.
Meanwhile, in the wake Houthi Attacks in the Red Sea and reports of possible re-emergence of activities of Somali pirates, stakeholders stressed on collective efforts to keep Indian Ocean and Connecting Global Sea routes uninterrupted.
In delivering the keynote speech, Global Watchdog of Commercial Shipping, International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Head of London Convention, Protocol and Ocean Affairs Dr. Fredrik Haag noted that regulatory framework is constantly updated to meet such growing challenges while ensuring that no-one is left behind.
In particular, he highlighted the role of fishermen and seafarers in global economy, whom he termed as ‘unsung heroes of global economy’ often discarded, hence, he drew attention to protect their rights in the regulatory framework.
Despite recent challenges, Haag stressed that seaborne trade remains the most cost-effective method of transporting goods. 
Meanwhile, Top  expert on Maritime Law, Dr. Dan Malika Gunasekara delivered an important lecture on International Covenants and Obligations and the Emerging Challenges of Terrorism and Piracy, on Global Maritime Arteries. 
While highlighting flaws in the current enforcement mechanism of IMO conventions, Minister of Ports, Shipping and Aviation  Nimal Siripala De Silva urged the need for a  proper mechanism to enforce IMO mechanisms.