IORA-Delhi Declaration

History of IORA

  • First established as Indian Ocean Rim Initiative in Mauritius on March 1995 and formally launched in 1997 by the conclusion of a multilateral treaty known as the Charter of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation.
  • It is based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic Cooperation particularly on Trade Facilitation and Investment, Promotion as well as Social Development of the region.
  • In 2015, First IORA Ministerial Blue Economy Conference, titled as, Enhancing Blue Economy Cooperation for Sustainable Development in the IORA Region, was held in Mauritius.

Indian Ocean Rim Association

  • The Indian Ocean Rim is a region comprised of the states whose shores are washed by the waters of the Indian Ocean.
  • The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is an international organization with 21 Member States – Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, UAE and Yemen.
    • Promote the sustained growth and balanced development of the region.
    • Explore all possibilities and avenues for trade liberalisation.
    • Promote co-operation in development of human resources.
  • The IORA is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, bringing together representatives of Government, Business and Academia, for promoting co-operation and closer interaction among them.
  • It is based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic Cooperation particularly on Trade Facilitation and Investment, Promotion as well as Social Development of the region.

Importance of IORA

  • Strategic importance of Indian Ocean.
  • Persevering efforts to secure shipping traffic.
  • Strengthen the bilateral relations with the regional countries.
  • To ensure the maritime safety and security.
  • Act as a collective platform to express the regional causes.
  • Ensure sustained economic growth in the region.
  • Revitalising the age old cultural contacts with these nations.
  • Enhance the interoperability of forces in the region.
  • Act as a mechanism to avoid disputes between member countries.
  • Provide a collective resistance against the piracy issues in African coast of Indian ocean.
  • Developing greater synergies with the Navies in the region.
  • Envisage collective action and cooperation to advance peace and security.
  • To safeguard our mainland and islands, defend our interests, ensure a safe secure and stable Indian Ocean, and make available our capabilities to others.

Location: Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India

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