Indonesia Opens IORA Ministerial Meeting in Bali

Nusa Dua, Bali, 27 Muharram 1438/28 October 2016 (MINA) – Indonesia Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi opened the 16th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers Meeting in Bali on Thursday, expected to produce IORA Concord concept that would be brought to IORA Summit scheduled in March next year.

“Through the IORA we have the responsibility to ensure our territories remain stable and peaceful,” the minister said in her remarks to open the meeting in Indonesia’s Nusa Dua, Bali as quoted in a statement released by her ministry.

Indonesia holds the IORA chair from 2015 to 2017. Indonesia puts a theme of “Strengthening Maritime Cooperation in a Peaceful and Stable Indian Ocean” under its chairmanship period, Xinhua reported.

Retno underscored that the Indian Ocean now has become the driver of global growth and IORA has turned to be a most strategic organization in the region.

She said that IORA has the mechanisms to appropriately address the interests of its member countries, among other in taking the benefits of natural resources in Indian Ocean.

The minister added that IORA Concord would be the arch document produced during Indonesia’s chairmanship in the organization, saying that it would shape IORA’s vision and long-term goals.

Besides strengthening the organization’s regional architecture, the IORA Concord was also highly expected of capable to further improve collegial capacities and to boost mutually benefiting cooperation.

The 16th IORA Council of Ministers Meeting was held from Oct. 22 to 27, attended by senior representative officials from its 21 member countries and dialogue partner countries.

The organization was originally established to facilitate trade and investment, promote sustainable economy cooperation and capacity building for the development and welfare of its member countries. (T/R07/R01)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)