Indonesian FM Explains Significance of IORA Concord

Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi. Photo: Foreign Ministry doc

Jakarta, 6 Jumadil Akhir 1438/5 March 2017 (MINA) – Entering IORA’s 20th Year, Indonesia Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi says the importance of cooperation among the Indian Ocean Rim countries having a strategic vision to fully utilize the large potential in the region, stability and peace must be maintained.

“This is the significance of the IORA Concord which will be an outcome of the IORA Summit,” said RI Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in explaining the series of events to be held at the IORA Leaders’ Summit (Jakarta, 5-7 March 2017), the official site reported.

The Minister added that Indonesia has shown leadership in APEC and in ASEAN. “It is time for Indonesia to show leadership in IORA by hosting the first summit and producing the concord,” said the Minister.

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The IORA Concord will provide a platform for countries facing current and future threats. IORA aims to advance economic cooperation but history proves that economic growth will not be sustainable without stability and peace.

“Indonesia wants to ensure an Indian Ocean that is stable and peaceful. The Concord will explain norm setting so that countries are committed to international law and agreements, including UNCLOS 1982,” explained the Minister.

The Vision in the Concord is inseparable from the implementation of the Joko Widodo government’s Maritime Fulcrum pillar. Through maritime diplomacy, Indonesia will fill the void in the Indian Ocean and make use of economic opportunities.

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The Minister explained that the western part of the Indian Ocean is an established market which Indonesia wishes to utilise as a source of investment and tourism while the Eastern part is relatively untapped. “Through IORA, we wish to make the Eastern part of the Indian Ocean the gateway to cooperation with the countries of Africa and the Middle East,” said the Minister.

Behind the maritime diplomacy in IORA, Indonesia predicts that the Indian Ocean will be the region of the future. Approximately 2.7 billion of the world’s population and 21 countries are in the region. Half of the G20 are in the Indian Ocean. Furthermore, the waters have become means of global transport and contain various natural resources.

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It was also explained that the series of events at the Leaders’ Summit include the Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) held on 5 March, Council of Ministers Meeting (COMM) on 6 March, and the Leaders’ Summit on 7 March.

The Minister acknowledged that participation in the event has exceeded expectations. “Of the 21 countries, 16 leaders and 5 Minister-level officials have confirmed their attendance,” said the Minister.(T/RE1/P2)

Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)