NEW DELHI (PTI): Navy Chiefs of 12 countries from the Indian Ocean Region are taking part in the Indian Navy's three-day-long maritime conclave which started on Sunday in Goa, according to an official statement.

This is be the third edition of the Goa Maritime Conclave (GMC-21) built upon the working level deliberations of the Goa Maritime Symposium-21 held in May this year, the Indian Navy's statement mentioned.

The theme for GMC-21 is 'Maritime security and emerging non-traditional threats: A case for a proactive role for IOR navies', derived keeping in mind the necessity of 'winning everyday peace' in the maritime domain, it said.

Goa Maritime Symposium-21 was the Sherpa event for the GMC-21, the statement noted.

"At the GMC-21, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh would be hosting Chiefs of navies or Heads of maritime forces from 12 Indian Ocean littorals, including Bangladesh, Comoros, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Thailand," it mentioned.

The participating Navy chiefs and heads of maritime forces would also dwell upon the significance of interoperability to effectively deal with emerging and future maritime security challenges in the Indian Ocean Region, it mentioned.

Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will deliver the conclave address and the keynote address of the GMC-21.

The Indian Ocean Region has become the focus of the 21st-century strategic landscape and the GMC aims to bring together regional stakeholders and deliberate on the collaborative implementation strategies, the statement said.

"As part of the conclave, visitors would also be afforded an opportunity to witness India's indigenous shipbuilding industry at the 'Make in India Exhibition' and the capabilities of Deep Submergence Rescue Vessel for submarines at the Marmugao Port Trust, Goa," it said.