INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION

Why in News?                                                                                                        

Sri Lanka to take over as chairman of IORA.

What is the Indian Ocean Rim Association?

• About:
  • The vision for IORA originated during a visit by the then President of South Africa, Nelson Mandelaof South Africa to India in 1995, where he said: “the natural urge of the facts of history and geography should broaden itself to include the concept of an Indian Ocean rim for socio-economic co-operation.”
  • It 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 Cooperation)in March 1997.
• Members:
  • Currently, IORA has 23 Member Statesand 11 Dialogue Partners.
    • Members:Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
    • Dialogue Partners:China, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.
  • Secretariat: