He said high level of trade and economic growth was being witnessed in the region which dictated the need to ensure safety and security of the sea lanes.

Pointing that recent years had seen rise in crimes like terrorism, piracy and smuggling of narcotics and arms in the ocean region, the Prime Minister said there was need for cooperation among the navies of the littoral states to prevent these transnational crimes.

"The perpetrators of these crimes are well organized and well-funded transnational syndicates who take full advantage of the vastness of oceans.

"The need for cooperation among the navies of the region in preventing such transnational crimes is, therefore, of paramount importance," he said inaugurating the two-day Indian Ocean Naval Symposium, which is being attended by chiefs of navies of almost all littoral states.

Iran, which had been invited, did not send a delegate.

Navy Chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta said the initiative was not to aim at forging a military alliance but was an attempt to bring interoperability among navies of the region to tackle the growing menace of terrorism in sea and natural disasters.