Srilanka, Feb. 20 -- Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe addressing the Eighth Indian Ocean Conference held in Muscat, Oman, highlighted the significant geopolitical shifts taking place within the Indian Ocean, stressing the region's increasing importance as a global nexus for trade, security and economic growth.

Citing the 2017 PricewaterhouseCoopers report, he pointed out that by 2050, countries from the Indian Ocean, including India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and others, are projected to emerge as leading global economies.

He referenced the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Japan's expanding economic involvement as clear signals of the region' s strategic importance, with enhanced infrastructure and connectivity driving new growth ...