BHUBANESWAR: Strengthening maritime security and trade among Indian Ocean rim countries will be the focus of a 3-day international conference to be inaugurated by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj here on March 20.

The conference 'India and the Indian Ocean: Renewing Maritime Trade & Civilisational Linkages' would be attended by over 200 delegates from 20 nations and supported by eight Union ministries, Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is chief patron of the event, told reporters today.

USA and China have evinced interest in sending their representatives to the meet as observers, he said.

Apart from maritime safety and security, trade and indust.....
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