Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

Definition

An intergovernmental organisation of States bordering the Indian Ocean that promotes regional economic cooperation, sustainable development, and maritime security among its members.

Key points

• It was established in 1997 and has its secretariat in Ebene, Mauritius; it was earlier known as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC).
• Its membership comprises littoral States of the Indian Ocean across Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, South-East Asia, and Australia, with India as a founding member.
• Its priority areas include maritime safety and security, trade and investment facilitation, fisheries management, disaster-risk management, the blue economy, and tourism.
• It is the principal regional cooperation forum spanning the entire Indian Ocean rim, supporting India's SAGAR vision and its role as a net security provider.
• It works by consensus and operates through dialogue partners as well as full members.

Why it matters for CAPF

IORA links maritime security, the blue economy, and India's Indian Ocean diplomacy; its 1997 founding, Mauritius secretariat, and connection to SAGAR are useful current-affairs facts.

Common confusion

IORA spans the whole Indian Ocean rim (Africa to Australia), whereas BIMSTEC is limited to the Bay of Bengal sub-region. IORA is an organisation of littoral States, not a naval alliance, and supports India's SAGAR doctrine.

Related concepts

concept sagar doctrine, concept bimstec, concept coastal security architecture, concept act east policy

Parent note

international organisations and india