Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

The Indian Ocean Rim Association is an inter-governmental organisation which was established on 7 March 1997.
It promotes regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region.
Objective: Encourage regional cooperation and sustainable development within the Indian ocean region.

Origin

The vision for IORA originated during a visit by late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa to India in 1995. This sentiment and rationale underpinned the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative in March 1995, and the creation of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (then known as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation) two years later, in March 1997.

Membership

All sovereign States of the Indian Ocean Rim are eligible for membership of the Association. To become members, States must adhere to the principles and objectives enshrined in the Charter of the Association.
IORA has 23 member states:
- 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.
IORA has 12 dialogue partners:
- China, Egypt, European Union, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
India, a founding member of IORA

IORA members

Dialogue partners

Decision Making

Decisions made within IORA are reached by consensus and commitments are undertaken on a voluntary basis.

Priority Areas

Maritime Safety and Security
Trade and Investment Facilitation
Fisheries Management
Disaster Risk Management
Academic, Science & Technology Cooperation
Tourism and Cultural Exchanges

In addition to these, two focus areas are also identified by IORA, namely Blue Economy and Women’s Economic Empowerment.

Governance

IORA Council of Ministers

The IORA Council of Ministers (hereinafter referred to as COM) is the highest decision -making body of the organization, also known as a Primary body.
It comprises the Minister of Foreign Affairs (or equivalent) of all Member States.
Role of the COM
- The COM is empowered by the IORA Charter which provides for the main duties of the body, namely the
  - Formulation of policies
  - Review of progress of co-operation
  - Taking decisions on new areas of co-operation
  - Establishment of Functional Bodies
  - Establishment of Specialised Agencies
  - Take any other decisions on matters of general interest

Committee of Senior Officials (CSO)

The Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) serves as the second-highest decision-making body within the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and is also referred to as the organisation’s primary body.
Composed of senior government officials from IORA member states, the CSO plays a crucial role in reviewing, discussing, and making recommendations on various IORA agenda items. These recommendations are then forwarded to the Council of Ministers (COM) for final approval.
The CSO holds bi-annual meetings (previously held annually) with the option to convene additional sessions as mutually agreed upon by member states. During these meetings, the committee focuses on four key functions:
- Establishing priorities for regional economic cooperation initiatives.
- Developing, monitoring, and coordinating Work Programmes that outline specific actions and projects.
- Mobilising resources to secure the financial viability of these Work Programmes.
- Submitting periodic reports and policy matters to the Council of Ministers, keeping them informed of progress and relevant

Sub-Committee on Finance (SCF)

The Sub-Committee on Finance (known as the SCF) is the mechanism which reviews all the operational and project expenditures of the organization

TROIKA

TROIKA is an institutional mechanism consisting of the current Chair, Vice-Chair, which is the future chair, and past Chair (referred to as previous chair in the Charter) of the IORA.
Its main purpose is to advise the organization on important matters, such as review of existing mechanisms or creation of new ones, policy decisions and report the same to IORA Member States.
On a more regular basis, TROIKA may advise on institutional arrangements’ issues and matters relevant to the strategic directions of the organization and may meet in between CSO and COM.
The TROIKA also plays an important role in the appointment and conditions of the mandate of the IORA Secretary-General.

Secretariat

The IORA Secretariat is based in Mauritius and is headed by a fixed term Secretary-General
It manages, co-ordinate, services and monitors the implementation of policy decisions and Work Programmes, as well as prioritisation of projects as adopted by the Council of Ministers.
It 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 Secretariat is headed by a Secretary-General

Secretary General

The Secretary-General is appointed by the Council of Ministers (COM) for a term of three years, renewable for one additional term, from among the candidates nominated by the Member States.
He/She is responsible to the COM for all activities of the Association.
The Secretary-General participates in all meetings of the Council and performs such other functions as are entrusted to him by these organs.
He/She provides an annual report to the Council of Ministers on the work of the Association.

Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD)

The Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD) is a flagship initiative under the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).
It was established by the 13th Council of Ministers’ meeting, held in November 2013 in Perth, Australia.
It is a track 1.5 dialogue (involving government officials, experts, think tanks, and academia).
It serves as a platform for open and inclusive discussions on strategic, economic, and maritime issues in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

IORA Funds

The IORA Special Fund

The IORA Special Fund serves as a central funding mechanism for projects undertaken by the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Member States.
It empowers these states to apply for financial support for projects aligned with IORA’s priority areas and the guiding principles outlined in the organisation’s Charter.

The Special Fund aims to achieve three key objectives:

Economic Cooperation and Connectivity
- To facilitate and promote economic cooperation activities among Member States. This includes fostering collaboration between government entities, businesses, and academic institutions, aligning with the broader objectives laid out in the IORA Charter.
Knowledge Sharing and
- Capacity Building
  To support intellectual exchanges, studies, and research initiatives that contribute to the advancement of economic cooperation within the region. This encompasses projects related to academia, research, entrepreneurship, and intellectual pursuits.
Enhanced Implementation
- To play a crucial role in capacity building at both national and regional levels. This includes providing support for implementing projects, programmes, and activities that contribute to achieving IORA’s objectives as outlined in the Charter.

The IORA Sustainable Development Program (ISDP)

To encourage the lesser developed Member States to actively participate and to optimize the benefits from its cooperation with the Association;
To encourage peer-to-peer learning, capacity building, and the sharing of information, experiences and best practices;
To enhance the sense of community and belonging among the Member States and to strengthen the sense of participation in the activities and programs of the Association;
To extend the opportunity to the less developed Member States to share their experience and expertise in specific areas that would benefit their economies;
To create opportunities for the less developed Member State to be able to host events under IORA banner.

FAQs

Q1. What is the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)?

IORA is an inter-governmental organisation that promotes regional cooperation, peace, and sustainable development among Indian Ocean littoral states.

Q2. When was IORA established?

IORA was established on 7 March 1997.

Q3. How many countries are members of IORA?

IORA currently has 23 member states and 12 dialogue partners.

Q4. Where is the IORA Secretariat located?

The IORA Secretariat is located in Ebène, Mauritius.

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