Indian Ocean Rim Association - IORA

🌊 The Indian Ocean Rim Association in collaboration with the National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea (MABIK), will host the International Webinar on Blue Technology for Sustainable Utilization of Marine Bio-resources in the Indian Ocean under the Republic of Korea–Indian Ocean Cooperation Fund (KICF). The webinar is open to all 23 IORA Member States and Dialogue Partners and will bring together government officials, researchers, technical experts and practitioners working in the Blue Economy and marine sectors.

This two-day webinar will mark the first activity of a three-year capacity-building programme (2026–2028), aimed at strengthening knowledge, innovation and regional cooperation in the Blue Economy across the Indian Ocean region.

Participants will engage in expert lectures, country presentations, regional knowledge exchange and preparatory discussions for the KICF In-Person Meeting in Busan, Republic of Korea, in September 2026.

For further information, please contact [email protected].

On 8 July 2026, H.E. Sanjiv Ranjan, Secretary-General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, met with H.E. Dr. Huang Shifang, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Mauritius at the Secretariat, Ebene, Mauritius. This meeting reaffirmed the strong partnership between the IORA and China.

The IORA Secretariat expresses its sincere appreciation to the Government of the People's Republic of China, an IORA Dialogue Partner since 2000, for its support and continued commitment to advancing regional cooperation across the Indian Ocean region.

On 3 July 2026, H.E. Dr Ibrahim Norbert Richard, Secretary-General of the Indian Ocean Commission, paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr Sanjiv Ranjan, Secretary-General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, at the IORA Secretariat in Ebene, Mauritius.

The exchange provided an opportunity for both Secretaries-General to explore avenues for further strengthening cooperation between the two organisations, in line with shared priorities across the Indian Ocean region.

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The 4th Working Group on Disaster Risk Management (WGDRM) was held virtually on 25 June 2026. The meeting was chaired by France/Réunion and co-chaired by the Republic of Madagascar, as Coordinating Country for Disaster Risk Management as Priority Area.

The meeting brought together representatives from 12 IORA Member States: Bangladesh, Comoros, France/Réunion, India, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Yemen, along with the IORA Secretariat, to advance regional cooperation on disaster risk management.

European Union, IORA Dialogue Partner also participated in the meeting.

On 23 June 2026, the 6th IORA Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security (WGMSS) was held in a hybrid format. The meeting was hosted by Australia, as Chair of WGMSS, and India, as Coordinating Country for the Priority Area on Maritime Safety and Security.

The meeting brought together representatives from 14 IORA Member States: Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, France, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, and Thailand, along with the IORA Secretariat, to advance regional cooperation on maritime safety and security.

Representatives from three IORA Dialogue Partners: European Union, Japan, and Türkiye, also participated, contributing valuable perspectives and underscoring the importance of collaboration for a safe, secure, and sustainable Indian Ocean.

Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade