Indian Ocean Rim Association: Difference between revisions

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|{{flagcountrycollapsible list|Australia}}title = 12 dialogue partners:|{{flagcountry|BangladeshChina}}|{{flagcountry|ComorosEgypt}}|{{flagcountry|FranceEuropean Union}}|{{flagcountry|IndiaGermany}}|{{flagcountry|IndonesiaItaly}}|{{flagcountry|IranJapan}}|{{flagcountry|KenyaRussia}}|{{flagcountry|Madagascar}}|{{flagcountry|Malaysia}}|{{flagcountry|Maldives}}|{{flagcountry|Mauritius}}|{{flagcountry|Mozambique}}|{{flagcountry|Oman}}|{{flagcountry|Seychelles}}|{{flagcountry|Singapore}}|{{flagcountry|SomaliaSaudi Arabia}}|{{flagcountry|South AfricaKorea}}|{{flagcountry|Sri LankaTurkey}}|{{flagcountry|Tanzania}}|{{flagcountry|ThailandUnited Kingdom}}|{{flagcountry|United Arab EmiratesStates}}|{{flagcountry|Yemen}}|}}

|leader_name1 = DrSalman GatotAl Hari GunawanFarisi,<br>Acting Secretary General<ref name="sec">{{cite web |url=http://www.iora.net/en/secretariat/secretary-general |title=Acting Secretary-General |publisher=Indian Ocean Rim Association |access-date=29 April 2018 |archive-date=29 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180429073959/http://www.iora.net/en/secretariat/secretary-general |url-status=dead }}</ref>

|leader_name2 = {{nobr|{{flagcountry|UnitedSri Arab EmiratesLanka}} (2019)<ref>{{cite web|title=IORAnews Chair| url=httphttps://www.iorathehindu.netcom/ennews/aboutinternational/iorasri-lanka-to-take-over-as-chair-of-indian-ocean-rim-association/article67398819.ece | title=Sri Lanka to take over as Chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association | newspaper=The Hindu | date=9 October 2023 | last1=Srinivasan | first1=Meera }}</ref>}}

|leader_name3 = {{nobr|{{flagcountry|BangladeshIndia}} (2021)<ref>{{cite web|title=Vice Chair|url=http://www.iora.net/en/about/iora-vice-chair}}</ref>

The '''Indian Ocean Rim Association''' ('''IORA)'''), formerly known as the '''Indian Ocean Rim Initiative (IORI)''' and the '''Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)''', is an [[international organisation]] consisting of 23 states bordering the [[Indian Ocean]].<ref name="intro">{{cite web |url=http://iora.net/about-us/membership.aspx |title=IORA Membership |publisher=Indian Ocean Rim Association |access-date=7 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101052819/http://www.iora.net/about-us/membership.aspx |archive-date=1 November 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The IORA is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, bringing together representatives of Government, Business and Academia, for promoting co-operation and closer interaction among them. It is based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic Cooperation particularly on Trade Facilitation and Investment, Promotion as well as Social Development of the region.<ref name="intro2">{{cite web |url=http://iora.net/about-us/how-iora-operates/scope-of-work.aspx |title=Scope of Work - OPEN REGIONALISM |publisher=Indian Ocean Rim Association |access-date=7 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714151008/http://iora.net/about-us/how-iora-operates/scope-of-work.aspx |archive-date=14 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Coordinating Secretariat of IORA is located at [[Ebene Cybercity, Mauritius|Ebene]], [[Mauritius]].

The organisation was first established as Indian Ocean Rim Initiative in [[Mauritius]] onin March 1995 and formally launched on 6–7 March 1997 by the conclusion of a [[multilateral treaty]] known as the Charter of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation.<ref name="iora">{{cite web |url=http://iora.net/about-us/background.aspx |title=Formation |publisher=Indian Ocean Rim Association |access-date=7 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101063553/http://www.iora.net/about-us/background.aspx |archive-date=1 November 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The idea is said to have taken root during a visit of former South African Foreign Minister, [[Pik Botha]], to India in November 1993. It was cemented during the subsequent presidential visit of [[Nelson Mandela]] to India in January 1995. Consequently, an Indian Ocean Rim Initiative was formed by [[South Africa]] and [[India]]. Mauritius and Australia were subsequently brought in. In March 1997, the IOR-ARC was formally launched, with seven additional countries as members: Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Yemen, Tanzania, Madagascar and Mozambique.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/the-indian-ocean-rim-association-for-regional-co-operation-india-takes-the-lead/|title=The Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation: India Takes the Lead|date=June 2012|access-date=28 October 2016|archive-date=16 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016081029/https://www.futuredirections.org.au/publication/the-indian-ocean-rim-association-for-regional-co-operation-india-takes-the-lead/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The Indian Ocean Region is prone to disasters both natural and man-made, such as cyclones, droughts, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, and tidal surges; and oil spills, fires, leakage of poisonous substances, and illegal dumping, respectively.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Disaster Risk Management – Indian Ocean Rim Association – IORA|url=https://www.iora.int/en/priorities-focus-areas/disaster-risk-management|website=www.iora.int|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref> IORA's [[Disaster risk reduction#Disaster management to DRR|Disaster Risk Management]] revolves around the development of knowledge and capabilities to anticipate, respond to, and recover from disasters.<ref name=":1"/> IORA's Disaster Risk Management Plan is multidisciplinary, involving national governments, non-governmental organizations, regional and international partners, and the private sector, among others.<ref name=":1"/>

The initial membership of IORA, then the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative, included only seven countries, the "Magnificent 7," hosted by Mauritius.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Allen|first=Calvin H.|date=1999|title=Regional Cooperation and the Indian Ocean Rim|jstor=41950416|journal=Indian Journal of Asian Affairs|volume=12|issue=1|page=11|issn=0970-6402}}</ref> Though membership grew to 14 states in March 1997, when the first ministerial meeting was convened and the Charter of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation was approved,<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Allen|first=Calvin H.|date=1999|title=Regional Cooperation and the Indian Ocean Rim|jstor=41950416|journal=Indian Journal of Asian Affairs|volume=12|issue=1|page=9|issn=0970-6402}}</ref> it has since grown to include 23 states and 10 dialogue partners.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Member States – Indian Ocean Rim Association – IORA|url=https://www.iora.int/en/about/member-states|website=www.iora.int|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Dialogue Partners – Indian Ocean Rim Association – IORA|url=https://www.iora.int/en/about/dialogue-partners|website=www.iora.int|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref> China obtained dialogue partner status in 2001.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kelegama |first=Saman |url= |title=The new great game : China and South and Central Asia in the era of reform |date=2016 |publisher=[[Stanford University Press]] |others=Thomas Fingar |isbn=978-0-8047-9764-1 |location=Stanford, California |pages=192 |chapter=China as a Balancer in South Asia |oclc=939553543}}</ref> Significantly, the organization can now be said to truly comprise the Indian Ocean Region, and the involvement of great powers as dialogue partners has greatly expanded IORA's influence.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Meng|first=Shu|jstor=j.ctv4ncp9p|doi=10.2307/j.ctv4ncp9p|title=The Gulf States, Asia and the Indian Ocean: Ensuring the Security of the Sea Lanes|date=2018|publisher=Gerlach Press|isbn=978-3-95994-058-0|editor-last=Niblock|editor-first=Tim|pages=171–178|chapter=The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IOR): Achievement, Potential and Limitations|s2cid=243935155|editor-last2=Ahmad|editor-first2=Talmiz|editor-last3=Sun|editor-first3=Degang}}</ref>

Interstate conflicts have greatly hindered the strengthening of IORA, most notably through India's intentional exclusion of Pakistan from IORA membership.<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal|last=Guan|first=Kwa Chong|date=2017|editor-last=Bateman|editor-first=Sam|editor2-last=Gamage|editor2-first=Ranji|editor3-last=Chan|editor3-first=Jane|title=Prospects for Indian Ocean Regionalism|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep05888.6|journal=ASEAN and the Indian Ocean: The Key Maritime Links|pages=18–20}}</ref> Though the India-Pakistan dispute has generally been terrestrial, it has manifested itself in IORA, as noted above; in the maritime realm; and in other regional maritime organization. Pakistan and India have recently engaged in an arms race for nuclear submarine technology, with each state having equipped its navy with nuclear weapons to some extent.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sakhuja|first=Vijay|title=The Strategic Dynamics of the Indian Ocean|publisher=The Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research|location=Abu Dhabi|pages=60–61}}</ref>

The Association comprises 23 Member States and 912 Dialogue Partners, the [[Indian Ocean Tourism Organisation]] and the [[Indian Ocean Research Group]] have observer status.<ref name="memb">{{cite web |url=https://www.dfat.gov.au/geointernational-relations/regional-architecture/indian-ocean/iora.html/indian-ocean-rim-association-iora |title=Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) |publisher=[[Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)]] |access-date=76 JulyFebruary 20142022}}</ref>

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The first of the projects supported by the Special Fund, the Fisheries Support Unit commenced operations in late 2011, headquartered in Muscat, Oman at the national Centre for Marine Sciences and Fisheries.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book|last=Wippel|first=Steffen|title=The Transnational Middle East|publisher=Taylor & Francis Group|year=2016|editor-last=Vignal|editor-first=Leila|location=London|pages=130|chapter=Sinbad the Sailor revived? Oman and its Indian Ocean link}}</ref> The aims of the FSU are to enhance cooperation among member states in regards to fisheries and to conduct research to manage and protect fish stocks.<ref name=":6"/> Critically, the FSU is exclusively dialogue-based: it does not make decisions or even provide advice on the management of fisheries or issues such as IUU fishing.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Geest|first=Claire|date=May 2017|title=Redesigning Indian Ocean Fisheries Governance for 21st Century Sustainability|journal=Global Policy|language=en|volume=8|issue=2|page=230|doi=10.1111/1758-5899.12447|s2cid=157853311 |issn=1758-5880}}</ref>