The 8th edition of Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS) Conclave of Chiefs (CoC) is being hosted by Royal Thai Navy at Bangkok, Thailand from 19 – 22 Dec 23. Adm R Hari Kumar, Chief of the Naval Staff, is leading a three-member Indian Naval delegation for the Conclave. 

IONS was conceived by the Indian Navy in 2008 as a forum which seeks to enhance maritime co-operation among Navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region. IONS provides an open and inclusive platform for discussions on regionally relevant maritime issues that would lead to common understanding on the way ahead. The inaugural edition of IONS was held in Feb 2008 at New Delhi, with Indian Navy as the Chair for two years (2008 - 2010). 

The 8th Conclave is being attended by Chiefs of Navies/ Heads of Maritime Agencies of IONS countries and would witness transfer of IONS Chairmanship from France to Thailand. A Seminar on the theme ‘Blue Economy: Ways Forward for Sustainable Development of IONS Member States’, is being conducted on the side-lines of CoC. Cmde Manmeet S Khurana, Cmde (Foreign Cooperation) from Indian Navy would be presenting a paper on ‘Security is Foundation for Peaceful and Sustainable Blue Economy’. Various bilateral interactions are also being conducted on the side-lines of the Conclave to facilitate a greater degree of maritime cooperation and understanding between the IONS countries. 

India would take over the Chair of IONS (2025-27) during the 9th CoC planned to be conducted in India in end 2025.

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