India to chair IORA from Nov 2025 (currently Vice-Chair).
Overview of IORA
- An intergovernmental organisation established on March 7, 1997.
- Secretariat is situated in Cyber City, Ebène, Mauritius, and it is hosted by the Government of the Republic of Mauritius.
- Aims to promote regional cooperation and development among countries bordering the Indian Ocean and those with a significant interest in the region.
- Apex regional organization promoting open regionalism in Asia, Africa, and Australia.
The organisation has 23 members as follows:
- Commonwealth of Australia,
- People’s Republic of Bangladesh,
- Union of Comoros,
- French Republic,
- Republic of India,
- Republic of Indonesia,
- Islamic Republic of Iran,
- Republic of Kenya,
- Republic of Madagascar,
- Malaysia,
- Republic of Maldives,
- Republic of Mauritius,
- Republic of Mozambique,
- Sultanate of Oman,
- Republic of Seychelles,
- Republic of Singapore,
- Federal Republic of Somalia,
- Republic of South Africa,
- Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka,
- United Republic of Tanzania, Kingdom of Thailand,
- United Arab Emirates and
- Republic of Yemen.
- France
Countries with the status of dialogue partners are:
- China
- Egypt
- European Union
- Germany
- Italy
- Japan
- Russia
- Saudi Arabia
- South Korea
- Turkey
- United Kingdom
- United States
Six Priority Areas of Indian Ocean Rim Association
· Maritime Safety and Security (MSS)
· Trade and Investment Facilitation
· Fisheries Management
· Disaster Risk Management
· Tourism and Cultural Exchanges
· Academic, Science and Technology Cooperation
Significance of the Indian Ocean Region (IOR)
- Geostrategic importance: Part of Indo-Pacific but unique in its own right.
- Economic importance:
- Transports 75% of global trade and 50% of daily oil consumption.
- Generates $1 trillion in goods and services.
- Intra-IORA trade: $800 billion (2023).
Challenges faced:
- Poor development and political instability.
- Climate change, disasters, and environmental degradation.
- Security issues: Piracy, terrorism, human and drug trafficking.
Issues Faced by IORA
- Funding constraints:
- IORA budget is member-dependent and limited to a few million dollars.
- Indian Ocean Commission (with only five members) has $1.3 billion budget (2020-25).
- Need to involve private sector (shipping, oil & gas, marine tourism) to contribute funds.
- Small Secretariat:
- Based in Mauritius with limited staff.
- Need for technology integration for governance, data processing, and policy efficiency.
Key focus areas for India as Chair (2025-2027):
- Increase funding for IORA’s budget.
- Integrate technology for data management and policy analysis.
- Develop maritime-ready courses in collaboration with academic institutions.
India’s Role and Recommendations
- Aligning IORA with SAGAR vision (Security and Growth for All in the Region).
- Leveraging partnerships with:
- Australia (marine research & technology).
- France & Singapore (marine technologies).
- UAE & Oman (investments).
- Mainstream traditional knowledge from coastal nations (Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Mauritius).
- Enhancing maritime education:
- Collaborate with industry leaders for skill development & research.
- Introduce marine accounting and blue economy courses.
IORA has immense potential for regional prosperity. India’s leadership must strengthen institutional mechanisms, funding, and technology. Collaborative and sustained efforts are key to addressing challenges and ensuring long-term success.
