Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA): Chairman, Headquarters, Member Countries

The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is a regional intergovernmental organization established to promote cooperation and sustainable development among countries bordering the Indian Ocean. Founded on March 6-7, 1997, in Mauritius, IORA initially started as the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative in 1995 before evolving into a formal association. As of May 22, 2025, IORA remains a key platform for fostering economic, security, and cultural ties in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), aligning with initiatives like India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region).

Indian Ocean RIM Association

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IORA: Structure, Headquarters and Membership

IORA comprises 23 member states and 12 dialogue partners, reflecting the diversity of the IOR. 

• Its headquarters is in Ebene, Mauritius, and it operates on a consensus-based model with a rotating chairmanship every two years. 
• The current chairman, as of May 2025, is Sri Lanka, which took over from India in 2023, with South Africa as the vice-chair. 
• The Association’s apex body is the Council of Foreign Ministers (COM), supported by the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) and specialized working groups.

IORA: Member States Countries and Dialogue Partners

Member States Countries (23): 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 (12): China, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, South Korea, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States, Saudi Arabia, Spain.

Observers: Indian Ocean Research Group (IORG) and the United Nations.

IORA: Objectives and Priority Areas

IORA’s charter, adopted in 1997, emphasizes sustainable development and balanced economic growth. Its six priority areas, expanded over the years, are:

1. Maritime Safety and Security: Combating piracy, illegal fishing, and trafficking through coordinated patrols and information sharing.
2. Trade and Investment Facilitation: Promoting intra-regional trade, with initiatives like the IORA Business Forum.
3. Fisheries Management: Ensuring sustainable fishing practices to prevent overexploitation.
4. Disaster Risk Management: Enhancing Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) capabilities, critical for cyclone-prone IOR nations.
5. Academic, Science, and Technology Cooperation: Encouraging research in marine science and technology transfer.
6. Tourism and Cultural Exchanges: Boosting tourism and cultural ties to foster people-to-people connections.

Two additional focus areas include the Blue Economy (since 2015) and Women’s Economic Empowerment, reflecting evolving regional needs.

IORA: Key Activities and Achievements

IORA has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen regional cooperation:

• Maritime Security: The IORA Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security, established in 2018, coordinates efforts like joint EEZ surveillance, aligning with India’s SAGAR initiative. For instance, India’s IOS SAGAR mission in May 2025, visiting Seychelles, complements IORA’s security goals.
• Blue Economy: The 2017 Jakarta Declaration on Blue Economy emphasized sustainable marine resource use, with projects like coastal zone management in Seychelles and fisheries support in Comoros.
• Disaster Response: IORA’s Rapid Action Response Mechanism has improved HADR coordination, notably during Cyclone Kenneth in Mozambique in 2019.
• Economic Cooperation: The IORA Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), under negotiation since 2019, aims to reduce trade barriers among members, though progress has been slow as of 2025.
• Cultural Initiatives: Events like the IORA Film Festival in Sri Lanka (2024) promote cultural exchange, enhancing regional soft power.

Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA): Relevance in 2025

As of May 22, 2025, IORA plays a crucial role amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the IOR, such as the India-Pakistan conflict following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. The Association provides a platform for dialogue, with India leveraging IORA to push for global condemnation of terrorism, as echoed by Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh on May 1, 2025. IORA’s focus on maritime security aligns with India’s SAGAR initiative, evident in joint efforts like the IOS SAGAR port calls in Mauritius and Seychelles in April-May 2025.

Economically, IORA members account for a significant portion of global maritime trade, with the Indian Ocean hosting key choke points like the Strait of Malacca. However, challenges like China’s growing influence through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and internal disparities among member states (e.g., economic gaps between Singapore and Somalia) test IORA’s unity.

IORA: Challenges and Future Outlook

IORA faces several hurdles:

1. Diverse Interests: Members have varying economic and political priorities, slowing consensus on initiatives like the PTA.
2. Resource Constraints: Smaller nations like Comoros and Seychelles lack the capacity to fully engage in IORA projects, relying heavily on larger members like India and Australia.
3. Geopolitical Rivalries: The India-China rivalry, with China as a dialogue partner, creates tensions within IORA, particularly over maritime influence in the IOR.
4. Environmental Threats: Climate change, rising sea levels, and marine pollution pose existential risks to IOR states, requiring urgent action.

Looking ahead, IORA aims to deepen cooperation in the Blue Economy and disaster resilience, with plans for a 2026 summit in South Africa focusing on green maritime technologies. Strengthening ties with dialogue partners like the US, which supports India’s counter-terrorism stance as of May 2025, could enhance IORA’s global influence. By fostering inclusive growth and security, IORA continues to be a vital platform for the Indian Ocean’s future stability and prosperity.