CPPR and Ministry of External Affairs to Host Kochi Dialogue 2026 on India–GCC Partnership

KOCHI:
The Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), in collaboration with the Policy Planning & Research (PP&R) Division of the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, will host the Kochi Dialogue 2026 from 18 to 20 November 2026 at Vivanta Ernakulam, Marine Drive, Kochi.

Following its inaugural edition in 2025, the second edition of the Kochi Dialogue will be held under the overarching theme “Towards an Innovative and Integrated India–GCC Partnership.” The three-day Track 1.5 diplomacy dialogue will bring together policymakers, diplomats, senior government officials, business and industry leaders, academics, think tank representatives and strategic thinkers from India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).

The inaugural edition of the Kochi Dialogue received media coverage across India and the Gulf, highlighting the growing significance of the India-GCC partnership and the dialogue’s role in bringing together stakeholders from both regions.

The Kochi Dialogue 2026 will provide a platform for substantive discussions on the evolving India-GCC partnership and its wider implications for the Indian Ocean region. The dialogue will examine opportunities for deeper cooperation across strategic, geopolitical, economic, technological and emerging areas of mutual interest.

The key focus areas of the 2026 edition include:
Strategic Security and Maritime Stability
Energy Security, AI and Innovation
Ports, Shipping, Trade and Investment
Food Security and AgriTech
Civil Nuclear and Space Cooperation

The dialogue seeks to facilitate meaningful exchanges between government, industry, academia and strategic communities, while strengthening networks and identifying opportunities for sustained India–GCC cooperation.