The Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC) hosted the 8th Indian Ocean Conference on 16–17 March. The event brought together foreign ministers from 27 countries to discuss maritime security and how countries can cooperate on an economic basis.
The conference was organised by Oman’s Foreign Ministry in collaboration with the India Foundation – and supported by Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. It provided a high-level diplomatic platform for Indian Ocean nations.
Regional cooperation at the forefront
The two-day event opened with remarks from: Sayyid Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi, Oman’s Foreign Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore’s Minister for Foreign Affairs
OCEC CEO Eng. Said Al Shanfari highlighted the venue’s role in hosting global events: “Our venue was designed to be a space where the future of our country and region takes shape. Hosting events of this scale and importance is at the heart of what we do.”
OCEC’s 2025 event lineup
This is OCEC’s second major international event in 2025, following the International Science Council’s 3rd General Assembly in January. The venue is now preparing for Ramadan iftars under the Layali Al Irfan campaign and gearing up for further global gatherings.
For more details, visit Oman’s Foreign Affairs Ministry.
