Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)
Founded in 1997, Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) was established to enhance trade and co-operation among the littoral States of the Indian Ocean Rim. The Maldives was admitted as a member state of IORA by consensus at the 18th Meeting of the Council of Ministers, held on 2nd November 2018 in Durban, South Africa. This decision was formalised at a ceremony held at the 19th Meeting of the Council of Ministers, held in the United Arab Emirates in 2019, making the Maldives the 22nd member of the Association.
IORA currently comprises 23 Member States and 12 Dialogue Partners (observers). The Member States are Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Yemen, and the United Arab Emirates. The Dialogue Partners are China, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Türkiye, European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
In accordance with the IORA Charter, the principal decision-making body of the Association is the Council of Ministers (COM), which is responsible for policy direction and oversight of implementation. The Maldives is represented at the COM by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, or an appropriate representative of Ministerial rank. A ‘Troika’ consisting of an internally elected Chair, Vice-Chair and the previous Chair, will preside over these sessions.
The COM is supported by the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO), consisting of senior government representatives who meet either annually or at a frequency to be determined who can substantively contribute to the priority areas of the Association.
The Chair of the COM, elected by Member States, serves a two-year term and is supported by a Vice-Chair. In practice, the Vice-Chair typically assumes the role of Chair in the subsequent term. The current Chair of IORA is the Republic of India, which is responsible for coordinating and presiding over meetings of the COM, the CSO, and other mandated bodies.
The IORA Secretariat is based in Ebene, Mauritius, and is headed by the Secretary-General, who is elected by the COM to serve a three-year term that is once renewable. The Secretary-General is supported by directors and experts seconded to the Secretariat from by Member States. In the event that a Secretary General is indisposed, the senior-most Director serves as the de facto Secretary-General.
His Excellency Sanjiv Ranjan of India currently serves as Secretary-General having assumed office on 1 January 2025 for a three-year term.
Important bodies of IORA include:
1. The Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI): a technical committee devoted to identifying ways of enhancing trade cooperation;
2. The Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORBF): composed of business representatives that will meet in their own separate session to discuss policy relevant to business facilitation;
3. The Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group: co-ordinates with Think Tanks, Universities, Research Centres and Academics generally to produce pertinent research and propose policy recommendations to other IORA entities.
The Maldives and IORA Engagement
IORA has eight priority areas. They are:
1. Maritime Safety and Security
Corresponding agency from the Maldives – Ministry of Defence and National Service
2. Trade and Investment facilitation
Corresponding agency from the Maldives – Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade
3. Fisheries Management
Corresponding agency from the Maldives – Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources
4. Academics Science and Technology
Corresponding agency from the Maldives – Ministry Minister of Education, Higher Education and Skills Development and Maldives National University (MNU)
5. Women’s Economic Empowerment
Corresponding agency from the Maldives – Ministry of Health, Family and Welfare and Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade
6. Disaster Risk Management
Corresponding agency from the Maldives – Ministry of Defence/National Disaster Management Authority
7. Tourism and Cultural Exchanges
Corresponding agency from the Maldives – Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation
8. Blue Economy
Corresponding agency from the Maldives – Ministry of Economic Development, Transport and Trade, Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Ocean Resources and Ministry of Climate Change, Environment and Energy
Maldives and the Indian Ocean
The Maldives is committed to ensuring a peaceful, secure and rules-based order in the Indian Ocean, founded on trust, mutual respect and inclusivity.
The Maldives recognizes and respects the important role played by international partners in maintaining the safety and security of the Indian Ocean Region.
Situated at the heart of the Indian Ocean, the Maldives has a significant stake in the region and attaches great importance to contributing to discussions and discourse on the security and stability of the Indian Ocean with all partners. The Maldives’ engagement with international partners is anchored in mutual respect for sovereignty and independence, while fostering economic and political resilience.
This approach will continue to underpin the Maldives’ relations with the Member States and Dialogue Partners of IORA.