Indian Ocean Rim Association
About
- The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is an inter-governmental organisation, established in 1997. It unites the Indian Ocean coastal and island states to promote sustainable growth and balanced development of the region and its member states.
Did you know?
- The vision for IORA, formerly known as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), originated during a visit by the late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa to India in 1995 where he mentioned: “the natural urge of the facts of history and geography should broaden itself to include the concept of an Indian Ocean Rim for socio-economic co-operation and other peaceful endeavours”.
Members
- IORA brings together 23 countries of the Indian Ocean: Australia, Bangladesh, the Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.
- In addition, the association is supported by 12 dialogue partners, which include China, Egypt, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Structure
- The IORA Council of Ministers (COM) is the highest decision-making body of the organization, comprising the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of all Member States.
- The COM meets annually, or more often as mutually decided to discuss policy and set strategic direction.
- Decisions made within IORA are reached by consensus and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis.
- The IORA Secretariat is based in Mauritius and is headed by a fixed term Secretary-General.
- IORA became an observer to the UN General Assembly in 2015.
Priority Areas
- The Association addresses six priority areas: Maritime Safety & Security, Trade & investment Facilitation, Fisheries Management, Disaster Risk Management, Tourism & Cultural Exchanges and Academic, Science & Technology Cooperation as well as two cross-cutting issues: Blue Economy and Women’s Economic Empowerment.
Why in News?
- India currently chairs the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for the 2025–27 term and will host the IORA Summit in 2027.