Outline the importance of the Indian Ocean with respect to trade and transport routes.

1. The Indian Ocean Region connects three continents namely Asia, Africa and Australia. 

2. It supports some of Asia’s biggest economies. 

3. This shows the economic and political significance that the Indian Ocean has.

4. It contains three busiest straits namely Hormuz, Malacca and Bad-el-Mandeb.

5. Majority of crude oil exported by Gulf Countries passes through this route via Strait of Hormuz which links the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea.

6. Hence, the Indian Ocean serves as an important route for crude oil supplies worldwide. 

7. The Indian Ocean provides major sea routes connecting the Middle East, Africa and East Asia with Europe and the Americas. 

8. It carries a particularly heavy traffic of petroleum and petroleum products from the oil fields of the Persian Gulf and Indonesia.