Minister of Media and State Minister of Defence Ruwan Wijewardene today said that the Indian Ocean region (IOR) maritime domain and its affairs have become one of the crucial factors that decide and influence present, as well as future maritime affairs.Making the Keynote Address, State Minister Wijewardene said that cooperation and partnership among nations have become a realistic approach in addressing global issues in the present day, and various interested communities are looking for opportunities to establish partnerships with their counterparts in terms of mutual agreement, in trade, in defence etc. In this backdrop, maritime stakeholders must strive to enhance maritime security through cooperation with friendly nations.