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= INFORMATION FUSION CENTRE - INDIAN OCEAN REGION (IFC-IOR) =

Overview
The Indian Ocean Region contains a plethora of challenges in the maritime domain viz., piracy, human trafficking and contraband trafficking, IUU fishing, arms running, poaching, maritime terrorism, etc. Information sharing, cooperation and expertise development are prerequisites to effectively respond to such challenges. IFC-IOR was established to address this very need promote collaboration for maritime safety and security in view of the regions’ importance with respect to world trade and security.

Historical Background
The Indian Ocean Region, in view of its strategic location as also being home to a vast majority of world’s population, can be considered as the economic highway that drives global commerce. With over 75% of the world’s maritime trade and 50% of daily global oil consumption passing through the region; IOR is vital to world trade and the economic prosperity of many nations. The IOR is also a fragile environment, with threats such as maritime terrorism, piracy, human trafficking and contraband trafficking, illegal and unregulated fishing, arms running and poaching being prevalent. Hence, facilitating a conducive environment to undertake legitimate maritime activities in this region was a necessity.

Response to these challenges required enhanced situational awareness of the maritime activities in the region, so as to enable security agencies to function effectively. Further, the scale and scope, and the multi-national nature of the maritime activities; made it untenable for individual countries to address the twin requirements of situational awareness and law enforcement. Hence, collaborative efforts between maritime nations, was essential. Towards this, India has operationalised bilateral maritime information sharing with a number of countries and is also undertaking capacity building measures, where requested.

To further collaborative efforts, a need was felt to establish a dedicated centre for undertaking collation, fusion and dissemination of this data being exchanged with all partners. The growing realisation was that collaborative information sharing at the national and international levels provides compelling value propositions for all. An endeavour was therefore needed to join hands with interested stakeholders to forge bilateral and multilateral intra-regional information sharing networks which will not only ensure a collective regional approach but also global collaboration to deter threats emerging in the maritime domain.

The Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR), hosted by the Indian Navy, was established by the Government of India at Gurugram on 22 Dec 18 to further Maritime Safety and Security in the Indian Ocean Region. The Centre was formally recognized by International Maritime Organisation (IMO) in Apr 19.

Vision
“IFC-IOR envisage to be a nodal centre of excellence for promoting collaborative Maritime Safety and Security; towards a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean Region”.

Mission
“IFC-IOR mission is to advance Maritime Safety and Security in the Indian Ocean Region; by enhancing maritime domain awareness and coordinating activities, through information sharing, cooperation and expertise development; along with partner nations and agencies”.

About IFC-IOR
IFC-IOR aims at strengthening maritime security in the region and beyond, by building a common coherent maritime situation picture and acting as a maritime security information sharing hub for the region. Since its inception, the Centre has established working level linkages with more than 50 nations and multinational/maritime security centres. In addition to a website, the exchange of information is being undertaken by various means including physical interactions, telephone, fax, email and Video Conferencing.

To enable better correlation, compressed information cycles and timely inputs, the Centre also hosts International Liaison Officers (ILOs) from partner nations. The analysis undertaken at the Centre is disseminated through various products such as Monthly Maritime Security Update (MMSU), Half Yearly Overview and Annual Report. Additionally monthly weather forecasts and weather warnings. Specific studies/reports are also published by the Centre.

Maritime Information Sharing Workshop (MISW) is the flagship workshop conducted by the Centre. Other workshops/ seminars conducted include those in line with India’s vision of Security and Growth of All in the Region (SAGAR).

Mandate
IFC-IOR has been established with the vision of strengthening maritime security in the Indian Ocean Regi

on and beyond and aims to:-

(a) Ensure swift and accurate exchange of maritime safety and security information.

(b) Strengthen Collaborative linkages to ensure comprehensive MDA in the IOR and beyond.

(c) Undertake trend and predictive analysis of traffic for prediction of threats and share the products with collaborative partners.

(d) Interact with other maritime stakeholders by means of regular visits, seminars, workshops, exercises and training modules on maritime security.

(e)  Act as a Centre for collation, analysis, dissemination of information related to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) in the region.