External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said countries in the Indian Ocean bear the primary responsibility for its peace, stability and prosperity as she underlined the need to keep it safe and secure. <br/><br/>Mrs Swaraj said that if the revitalised maritime economy of the Indian Ocean region is to be a force for global economic growth, it is essential that the waters remain peaceful, stable and secure.<br/><br/>Addressing the 2nd Indian Ocean Conference in Colombo, The minister noted that the Indian Ocean is one of the most critical maritime transportation links in the world today. <br/><br/>She said, the Indian Ocean is of vital importance for India – the country has an extensive coastline of 7,500 km and 90 per cent of India's trade by volume and almost all of country's oil imports come through the sea.