Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

Mission

The Indian Ocean Rim Association is an intergovernmental organization of 23 Member States and 12 Dialogue Partners, for regional cooperation in Indian Ocean region across six Priority Areas and two Cross-Cutting Issues.

The vision for IORA originated during a visit by late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa to India in 1995. This sentiment and rationale underpinned the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative in March 1995, and the creation of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (then known as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Co-operation) two years later, in March 1997.

As the third largest ocean woven together by trade routes, commands control of major sea-lanes carrying half of the world's container ships, one third of the world's bulk cargo traffic and two thirds of the world's oil shipments, the Indian Ocean remains an important lifeline to international trade and transport.

Home to nearly 2.7 billion people, Member States whose shores are washed by the ocean are rich in cultural diversity and richness in languages, religions, traditions, arts and cuisines. They vary considerably in terms of their areas, populations and levels of economic development.