Foreign adviser likely to meet Jaishankar in Oman

Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain will attend the 8th Indian Ocean Conference to be held in Muscat, Oman, on February 16-17 with the theme "Voyages to New Horizons of Maritime Partnership."

Indian External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will also attend the conference, raising hope for a bilateral meeting between Hossain and Jaishankar on the sidelines.

If it happens, this will be their second meeting since the formation of the interim government led by Prof Muhammad Yunus in August last year.

Hossain and Jaishankar had their first meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York in September last year.

The 8th Indian Ocean Conference is being organised by India Foundation in association with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Oman.

The Indian Ocean Conference was started by India Foundation in 2016 in Singapore, with participation from 30 countries.

In the last 8 years, the conference has emerged as the flagship consultative forum for countries in the region over regional affairs.

The conference endeavours to bring critical states and principal maritime partners of the region together on a common platform to deliberate upon the prospects of regional cooperation for Security and Growth for All in the Region (SAGAR).

Foreign Adviser Hossain left Dhaka for Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Wednesday evening, said a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He is scheduled to go to Muscat, Oman from Dubai on February 14, the official said.

The adviser is scheduled to return home on February 18 after attending the Indian Ocean Conference.

In Muscat, President of the India Foundation Ram Madhav on Wednesday said the conference brings together the countries of the Indian Ocean region. "It has become a calendar event, not only in the region but the entire world.”

Oman Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi (host) along with foreign ministers of Australia Penny Wong, Bahrain Abdullatif Bin Rashid, Bhutan DN Dhungyel, Iran Abbas Araghchi, Maldives FM Abdulla Khaleel, Mauritius D Ramful, Nepal Arzu Rana Deuba, Sri Lanka Vijitha Herath, Seychelles Errol Fonseka, Eritrea FM Osman Saleh, will be present in Muscat.

Around 27 foreign ministers will be attending the gathering, with delegations from 45 countries in attendance.

The conference aligns with Oman’s Vision 2040, which focuses on economic diversification, environmental sustainability, and promoting renewable energy.