Central Idea

Sri Lanka is set to take over Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) succeeding Bangladesh.
It will hold this prestigious position for the next two years.

About Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

Establishment: Founded in 1997, IORA serves as a regional forum aimed at fostering understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation through a consensus-based, non-intrusive approach.
Membership: IORA comprises 23 member states, including Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, UAE, and Yemen.
Secretariat: The association’s Secretariat is based in Cyber City, Ebene, Mauritius, responsible for managing, coordinating, servicing, and monitoring policy decisions, work programs, and projects adopted by member states.

IORA’s significance is underscored by the Indian Ocean’s pivotal role in global trade, handling half of the world’s container ships, one-third of bulk cargo traffic, and two-thirds of oil shipments.
It forms the lifeline of international trade and transport, controlling major sea-lanes.

The Council of Ministers will engage in discussions to foster collaboration across six priority areas highlighted by the IORA:

Navigating Geopolitical Dynamics: Sri Lanka often finds itself managing complex strategic interests involving India and China within the Indian Ocean Region, positioning it as a crucial player in the IORA.
Regional Inclusivity: Sri Lanka’s active participation in the forum aligns it with neighboring nations, fostering regional inclusivity and cooperation. This engagement extends to countries such as Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Afghanistan.