The second edition of the Indian Ocean Conference was hosted by India Foundation with S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore and National Institute of Fundamental Studies, Colombo from 31 August 2017 – 1 September 2017 in Colombo. The theme in 2017 was Peace, Progress and Prosperity.

The IOR is one of the most complex regions in the world in human terms. It reposes significant endowments of strategic natural resources, tremendous ecological and human diversity, and resplendent cultural and civilizational traditions, making it arguably a pivotal harbinger to regional and global peace, progress and stability. Equally, it is a potential lodestar, offering a new template for maritime concert, cooperation and management, and societally-beneficent harness, of the vast blue economy. The vast majority in the IOR are developing countries, for whom economic development is vital for the upliftment of the masses from poverty. Peace is hence a vital condition for Progress, which in turn can lead to Prosperity