ZCZC
BSS-03
PM-IORA-CONFERENCE
Build unified sustainable blue economic belt: PM
DHAKA, Sept 5, 2019 (BSS) – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called
upon the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) member states to build a unified
sustainable blue economic belt in this region by making best use of the
untapped resources of the sea.
“There are great opportunities to accelerate the sustainable development
process of the respective countries of the region through Blue Economy
approach making best use of the unused or untapped resources of the sea,” she
said.
Sheikh Hasina added: “We can tackle the challenges of poverty, food
insecurity, energy crisis and ecological imbalances and create huge
employment opportunity.”
The prime minister was formally inaugurating the 3rd IORA Blue Economy
Ministerial Conference at Hotel InterContinental Dhaka this morning.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in association with IORA has organised
the two-day conference.
The prime minister also urged the IORA member countries to build on a
consensus agreement to achieve the Goal-14 of the SDGs of the UN through a
sustainable approach of management of the sea resources in this conference.
She said in pursuit of making the best outcome of a unified sustainable
Blue Economy, there is no alternative to cooperation and coordination among
the stakeholders.
“Therefore, I would urge you all to build on a consensus agreement to
achieve the Goal-14 of the SDGs of the UN through a sustainable approach of
management of the sea resources in this conference,” she said.
Only then, she added, the Blue Economy would play pivotal role to
contribute to the life of 9 billion people by 2050.
Pointing out that there is an intricate relation between peace, security
and sustainable development, Sheikh Hasina said: “We have to keep it in mind
that we cannot sacrifice the marine environment in pursuing economic growth.”
The premier went on saying: “We should simultaneously look Blue Economic
Growth and think blue.”
She said a properly coordinated, profitable and overall a protective
policy to the sea/ocean has to be adopted and to act accordingly to achieve
the goal.
Sheikh Hasina said the oceans and seas are the potential and versatile
resource frontiers for the mankind, which are still remained under-explored
mostly.
“Ocean-based industries such as shipping, fisheries, energy and
minerals, seaports, tourism and marine biotechnology are contributing as key
driving forces to the flourishing global economy,” she added.
Realising the importance of the sea and its potential maritime
resources, the prime minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman first adopted ‘The Territorial Waters and Maritime Zones Act,
1974’, to set the limit of the ‘Maritime Zones’ of Bangladesh and extract sea
resources.
She mentioned that her government formulated short, medium and long term
“Plan of Actions” with a view to conserving, controlled harnessing, managing
and development of fishes in the Bay of Bengal.
About the IORA, Sheikh Hasina said the association has become a platform
for cooperation in the areas of maritime safety and security, trade and
investment facilitation, fisheries management, disaster risk management,
science and technology cooperation, tourism and cultural exchanges and blue
economy.
She hoped that this spirit of cooperation and momentum of collaboration
among the IORA members will be augmented in the days to come.
In this connection, the premier said Bangladesh is going to take charges
as the Vice-Chair on the 1st of next month for two years and the Chair on 1st
October in 2021 for next two years of the IORA.
She requested the member countries of the IORA for extending all-out
cooperation in discharging these challenging duties.
“We will work together for ensuing development and proliferation of the
Blue Economy in many dimensions,” she said.
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