Government officials and shipping industry leaders representing over 50 countries met in Dubai on Monday to discuss key maritime piracy issues and 'find out ways to eradicate the menace.'

The experts discussed both public and private initiatives to counter the devastating effects of piracy on the captives and their families and communities as well as the threat it poses to peace and security internationally.

Co-convened by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and marine terminal operator DP World, Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the UAE and Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Chairman, DP World, inaugurated the two day event.

The meeting is being held under the theme “Global Challenge, Regional Responses: Forging A Common Approach to Maritime Piracy”, and is attended by more than 30 foreign Ministers, including from the GCC, senior representatives from a further 25 countries, the UN, the International Maritime Organization, industry leaders and international experts on maritime security and community development issues.

The summit also aims to introduce initiatives that merge the efforts of both sectors in areas of community development, security, and information sharing.

Panel discussions also tackle root causes of piracy, relevant international law issues, and opportunities of furthering civilian-military cooperation to ward off attacks.

The experts will focus on ways seek the serious humanitarian and economic issue of piracy in the first high-level public-private counter piracy conference to be held in the region on the widespread threats of piracy and collaborative means to eradicate it.

On the sidelines of the conference, the UAE and the UNs will hold a fundraising session in support of the UN’s Trust Fund to support initiatives of states countering piracy off the Coast of Somalia.