Furthermore, the CSO fosters engagement with IORA's Dialogue Partners by holding special sessions during their meetings. These sessions provide a valuable platform for discussing issues pertinent to IORA's priority areas, extending the organisation's reach and collaboration beyond the Indian Ocean region
For further details regarding the specific roles and duties of the CSO, please refer to paragraph 5.1(b) of the IORA Charter.
The current IORA Chair also holds the CSO chairship. In practice, the country's Secretary of Foreign Affairs (SFA) or equivalent leads the meetings, overseeing their smooth implementation, facilitating discussions, and promoting cooperation among participating member states.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the host country collaborates closely with the Institutional Arrangements and Broadening Engagement (IABE) Directorate within the IORA Secretariat to manage the CSO meetings effectively. The IABE Directorate plays a vital supporting role by assisting the Chair, drafting documents, preparing meeting agendas, and ensuring timely document circulation to all member states.
