Several Foreign Ministers, including those of India, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Iran, Malaysia and South Africa, participated in the 23rd Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Minister’s meeting in Colombo on October 11, 2023.
Key points
- ‘Reinforcing Indian Ocean Identity’ was the banner theme at the Indian Ocean Rim Association’s (IORA) Council of Ministers (COM).
- Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Ali Sabry chaired the Council, the highest decision-making body of IORA, taking over from the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh for the next two years.
- External Affairs minister Dr. Subramanyam Jaishankar laid emphasis on India’s priority of creating an Indian Ocean community that is strong and resilient.
- He added that India seeks to promote close collaboration within the region and continue to be the first responder.
- The external affairs minister highlighted the importance of a secure and prosperous Indian Ocean while mentioning India’s policy of SAGAR and Neighbourhood first.
- Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC)
- Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IORARC), a regional cooperation initiative of the Indian Ocean Rim countries, was established in Mauritius in March 1997 with the aim of promoting economic and technical cooperation, including expansion of trade and investment.
- The IORARC Secretariat is located at Port Louis, Mauritius.
- It is believed to be the brainchild of former South African President Nelson Mandela. It is an intergovernmental organisation of states on the rim of the Indian Ocean.
- The IORA has members from Africa, West Asia, South Asia, South-East Asia and the Oceania. The Association’s membership has expanded to 23 member states and 11 dialogue partners. India is one of the founder members of IORARC.
- The apex body of the IORARC is the Council of Ministers (COM) at the level of Foreign Ministers.
- IORA’s membership includes 23 countries: Australia, Bangladesh, the Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the UAE and Yemen. It also has 11 dialogue partners: China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Türkiye, the U.K. and the U.S.
