EMBRACING BLUE ECONOMY
“CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES”

This book, derived from the proceedings of the International Maritime Conference 2021, critically explores the strategic significance of the Afro-Asian Ocean, challenging the colonial misnomer “Indian Ocean.” It underscores the imperative for Pakistan to develop a blue economy within a secure and cooperative framework amidst rising geo-economics, militarization, and power bloc politics. The book emphasizes the need for multidimensional cooperative frameworks to protect national resources, such as fisheries, deep-sea mining, and energy, while fostering international trade and cooperation. It critiques the growing militarization through alliances like Quad and AUKUS and advocates for new paradigms of cooperation to prioritize blue economies over traditional geo-strategic doctrines. Highlighting Pakistan’s dual challenge of enhancing its geo-economic security policy and countering international militarization, the book offers insights into creating a stable and sustainable regional framework to realize the full potential of the blue economy in the evolving strategic environment of the Afro-Asian Ocean region.