The Chief of the South African Navy, Vice Admiral Johannes Mudimu, will host the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS 2012) at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) from 10 - 13 April 2012. The Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, Ms Lindiwe Sisulu will open the symposium on 11 April 2012.
The Indian Ocean Naval Symposium is a voluntary initiative that seeks to increase maritime co-operation amongst navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion of regionally relevant maritime issues. This will be the first time this symposium is held in the continent of Africa.
The main objective of IONS 2012 will be the promotion of constructive engagement and dialogue in order to enhance maritime security in the Indian Ocean and to promote areas of common interest and co-operation. The theme for the Symposium will be Regional Maritime Security Initiatives aimed at reducing Modern Maritime Security Threats. This is particularly relevant as acts of maritime security threats such as piracy are becoming common place around the continent’s East coast including the whole Indian Ocean.
Over 500 international naval delegates from 32 countries from the Indian Ocean or with interest in Indian Ocean will attend the three days symposium. This includes member countries from Southern African Development Community (SADC), Asia and representatives of international organisation such as the African Union and United Nations.
The Indian Naval Symposium 2012 represents a significant opportunity to support the foreign policy objectives of South African Government, as well as subsidiary objectives of a number of State Departments. It certainly constitutes one of the key initiatives to promote Consensus on Defence in general, and to advance the regional Naval Agenda specifically. This is in line with the Republic of South African outcomes of its contribution to global relations of a better Africa and a better world, thus ensuring that environmental assets and natural resources are well protected and enhanced.
The conclusion of deliberations will take place in the form of a Conclave of Chiefs of Navies, affording them the opportunity of high level strategic engagement. The Symposium will be concluded with a Gala Concert featuring the SA Navy Band at the CTICC Auditorium in Cape Town on the evening of 13 April 2012.
Enquiries:
Commander Prince Tshabalala
Cell: 078 447 8964
Email: princetshabalala28@yahoo.com
The South African Navy to hold an International Naval Symposium to deal with maritime security: Cape Town International Convention Centre
