ABOUT THE INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION (IORA)

The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), initially known as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative and Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), is an International/Diplomatic Organization with 20 Member States that includes:

• Australia
• Bangladesh
• Comoros
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Oman
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• UAE
• Yemen

It was first established in Mauritius in March 1995 and formally launched in 1997.

Dialogue Partners include: China, France, United Kingdom, Egypt, Japan and the United States.

Observer: The Indian Ocean Research Group (IORG)  and Indian Ocean Tourism Organization (IOTO)

The IORA seeks to build and expand understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation through a consensus based, evolutionary and non-intrusive approach. There are no laws and binding contracts. Compliance with consensus based decisions remains without any rigid institutional structure to specify any rules and regulations. Cooperation is based on principles of sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity, political independence and non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful coexistence and mutual benefit.

Membership is open to all sovereign states of the Indian Ocean Rim willing to subscribe to the principles and objectives of the Charter. The IORA is firmly based on the principle of open regionalism, as encouraged by the WTO.

Decisions, on all matters and issues and at all levels, are taken on the basis of consensus.

The IORA explicitly excludes bilateral relations and other issues likely to generate controversy and be an impediment to regional cooperation.

Cooperation within the Association does not have any prejudice on the rights and obligations of the Member States within the framework of other economic and trade cooperation arrangements and will not apply automatically to Member States of the Association. It does not seek to be a substitute for, but to reinforce, be complementary to and consistent with the bilateral, plurilateral and multilateral rights and obligations of Member States.

Priorities

There are various guidelines which are designed to help Member States to propose, select and implement projects on a basis of consensus. To promote the sustained growth and balanced development of the region and of the Member States, and to create common ground for regional economic co-operation the following seven priority areas have been identified:

1. Maritime Safety and Security
2. Trade & Investment Facilitation
3. Fisheries Management
4. Disaster Risk Management
5. Academic, Science & Technology
6. Tourism & Cultural Exchanges
7. Gender Empowerment

Currently Ambassador K V Bhagirath is the Secretary General of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Ambassador Bhagirath of the Republic of India, assumed duties as Secretary-General of the IORA on January 1st, 2012.

The Secretariat of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is based in Cyber City, Ebène, Mauritius. It manages, coordinates, services and monitors the implementation of policy decisions and work programmes, as well as prioritization of projects adopted by the Council of Ministers (COM). The Secretariat is responsible for servicing of all IORA meetings, the representation and promotion of the Association, the collation and dissemination of information, the maintenance of an archive, depository and registry for IORA documentation and research material and mobilization of resources.

The Secretary-General is assisted by two Directors and Experts, on voluntary secondment from Member States. The Secretariat is supported by a total of eight locally engaged staff (Locally Recruited Personnel).

The Secretariat is hosted by the Government of Mauritius.