Sri Lanka to lead the Intergovernmental Association of Indian Ocean Countries

"Strengthening the regional ties and identity of the 23 countries of Asia, Africa and Oceania bordering the same sea, but also improving the status of women and the sustainability of the area's economy" are the objectives of Colombo's two-year leadership of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

(AsiaNews - From today and for the next two years (2023-2025), Sri Lanka assumes the presidency of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), an intergovernmental organization of the states bordering the Indian Ocean, founded in 1997. Its members span Africa, West Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania for a total of 23 member states and 11 partners.

The award took place during the 23rd meeting of the Council of Ministers, following a meeting of the Council of Ministers of the member states hosted in Colombo with the theme "Strengthening the regional architecture and identity of the Indian Ocean".

At the IORA meeting, Colombo Foreign Minister Ali Sabry chaired the Council meeting while the former president, Bangladesh Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen relinquished the presidency. The meeting was attended by 16 member states, represented by foreign ministers and ministerial delegations.

The Council is the highest decision-making body of the association. This is the second time that Sri Lanka has held the presidency, having held the role in 2003-2004.

Initially, the organization was called the Indian Ocean Regional Cooperation Association (IOR-ARC). It later changed to “IORA” at the 13th Ministerial Meeting in Perth, Australia. The adjustment of the term "IORA" was intended to increase the awareness of citizens of the Member States that the forum was uniting the Indian Ocean countries as one region.

In addition to the organization's ministerial delegates and partners, Japanese Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs Masahiro Komura, Deputy Minister for Political Affairs of the Republic of Korea Hon Chung Byung-won and British Minister for the Indo-Pacific Anne Marie Trevelyan were also present .

According to senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, “IORA ministers deliberated on modalities of cooperation in the six priority areas identified by the association, including trade and investment, maritime security, fisheries management (promoting sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources as over utilization has currently become a serious issue), including disaster risk management.

In addition to these priorities, the IORA also raises two intersectoral issues such as women's economic empowerment and the blue economy, i.e. sustainable exploitation of the ocean. Sri Lanka looks forward to playing a significant role in establishing a vibrant working relationship with IORA Member States.”

Geopolitical analyst Mayantha Ratnayaka told Asia News that “the idea of IORA was born during a visit by the late President Nelson Mandela to India in 1995 and he was of the view that the concept of an Indian Ocean Association for Cooperation socio-economic importance were of fundamental importance among the countries bordering the Indian Ocean".

According to policy analysts Meththika Jayasumana and Channa Ihalagama “the blue economy examines the issue of sustainability within the regulatory framework. The oceans are the new frontier for oil and gas exploitation and intensive fishing.

However, the climate change crisis has impacted the seas such that levels of pollution and heat in the oceans cannot be reversed. The IORA operates through different avenues: the ministerial level and government-to-government relations, and dialogue between academies."