Bhubaneswar: Union minister of petroleum and natural gas Dharmendra Pradhan on Friday said the state had the potential to become the maritime gateway to the East Asia region by virtue of its many important ports and waterways.

The minister was speaking at the inaugural function of the two-day 3rd East Asia Summit (EAS) on maritime security and co-operation here organised by the ministry of external affairs.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Sagar (Security and Growth for All in the Regions), Pradhan said: "The conference will help elicit coherent views among EAS member countries on co-operation in areas of maritime security, safety and use of ocean resources to the benefit of all."

He also recalled the festival of Bali yatra, which was a voyage to Bali in Indonesia that was undertaken during the ancient days by merchants and seafarers from the state.

As many as 52 delegates from 18 countries, including Australia, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, USA and Vietnam, joined the conference.

The ministry's joint secretary (ASEAN) Anurag Bhushan said: "Among areas in maritime co-operation that India hopes to explore with the EAS is disaster risk reduction and management, joint patrols and exercises as well as other maritime capacity-building activities. Security co-operation is important for the EAS countries."

"The Centre is committed to promoting the blue economy. The Prime Minister has endorsed it as pillar of economic activity in the coastal areas and linked hinterlands through sustainable tapping of oceanic resources and announced his vision for the seas through Sagar," said Bhushan.

National Maritime Foundation director Vice-Admiral Pradeep Chauhan said India was capable to thwart the threat from any country, including China, in the Indian Ocean and other areas. "We are emerging as a strong nation. The Indian Navy is capable to thwart any attack," he said.