Context
The 10th edition of the Indian Ocean Dialogue was recently conducted by the Ministry of External Affairs in association with the Indian Ocean Rim Association Secretariat.
About Indian Ocean Rim Association
- Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) was formed in 1997 as a regional grouping of countries situated along the Indian Ocean rim and was previously known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative and IOR-ARC.
- The organisation promotes sustainable and balanced regional development through greater economic cooperation, trade liberalisation and easier flow of goods, services and investments within the Indian Ocean Region.
- IORA currently has 23 member states and 12 dialogue partners spread across Asia, Africa, Europe and Oceania.
- Its member countries include India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, Oman, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, the UAE, Yemen, Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Comoros, Mauritius, Seychelles, Australia and France.
- Dialogue partners of the organisation include China, Egypt, the European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Türkiye, the United Kingdom and the United States.
- The association focuses on major priority areas such as trade and investment, maritime safety and security, fisheries management, disaster risk management and the blue economy.
- The Council of Foreign Ministers (COM) is the apex decision-making body of IORA and meets annually.
- Its secretariat is located at Ebène in Mauritius and is headed by a Secretary-General appointed for a three-year term.
