Mauritius has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening regional maritime cooperation and improving the collective ability of countries in the Western Indian Ocean to respond to evolving maritime security threats. Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Dhananjay Ramful, made the remarks during the opening of the 3rd EU Regional Maritime Security Week in Port Louis, which was held alongside the third Safe Seas Africa Steering Committee meeting.
The event was attended by the Chargé d’Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Mauritius, Jose Maria Troncoso-Perera, the Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), Dr Ibrahim Norbert Richard, the Secretary for Home Affairs at the Prime Minister’s Office, Kan Oye Fong Weng-Poorun, together with other government officials and regional representatives.
The European Union organised the Maritime Security Week in partnership with the IOC from 21 to 24 July. The regional forum focused on strengthening cooperation to build a safer, more secure and more resilient maritime domain. It brought together representatives from the EU, IOC, International Maritime Organization (IMO), INTERPOL, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), as well as heads of delegation and other regional maritime security stakeholders.
During his address, Minister Ramful described the Maritime Security Week as an important platform that brought together several key regional meetings. These included the third Safe Seas Africa Steering Committee, the fifth Port Security Programme Steering Committee, the 13th Regional Maritime Security Architecture Signatory States Steering Committee, and the third Plenary Session of the Contact Group on Illicit Maritime Activities.
The Minister thanked the IOC, the EU and other regional and international partners for their continued support in strengthening maritime safety, maritime security and regional cooperation across the Western Indian Ocean. He said the work carried out through these committees has improved the operational capabilities of participating member states as they respond to increasingly complex maritime security challenges.
Speaking about Mauritius’ Exclusive Economic Zone, which covers more than 2.2 million square kilometres, Minister Ramful said the ocean plays a central role in the country’s economy, security and future development. He pointed to growing concerns such as transnational organised crime, illicit trafficking, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, marine pollution and cyber threats, stressing the need for stronger regional cooperation, coordinated action and greater information sharing.
The Minister also referred to the recent security situation in the Red Sea and the Strait of Hormuz, saying these developments have exposed the vulnerability of global shipping routes and increased transport costs, with wider economic consequences for maritime nations. He said no country can tackle these challenges alone and reaffirmed Mauritius’ support for the Regional Maritime Security Architecture, including the Regional Coordination Operations Centre in Seychelles and the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre in Madagascar.
Looking ahead, Minister Ramful called for greater investment in maritime domain awareness, digital technologies, cyber resilience, artificial intelligence, data analytics and integrated maritime information systems to improve regional preparedness and operational effectiveness. He also highlighted the importance of strengthening legal and governance frameworks, aligning legislation and expanding judicial cooperation to combat transnational maritime crime.
The Minister concluded by expressing confidence that the discussions and outcomes of the Maritime Security Week would strengthen regional cooperation and support the shared goal of a safer, more secure, more resilient and more prosperous Western Indian Ocean.
EU Chargé d’Affaires Jose Maria Troncoso-Perera reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting regional maritime security and sustainable maritime governance. He said the progress made under the regional maritime security architecture reflects the close cooperation among partner countries and noted that better data sharing remains essential for improving maritime surveillance and protecting the region’s blue economy.
IOC Secretary General Dr Ibrahim Norbert Richard emphasised the need for continued investment in maritime security to maintain regional stability, support sustainable ocean development and protect the marine environment. He called for stronger knowledge sharing, enhanced maritime surveillance and closer operational cooperation, adding that deeper regional collaboration would improve information exchange, strengthen operational capacity, tackle transnational threats and increase the resilience of coastal states to climate and environmental risks.
source: GIS Mauratius
African Maritime Council