IORA High Level Panel on Enhancing Maritime Cooperation for Inclusive Growth in Indian Ocean Region

IORA Member States attributes high importance to maritime cooperation since it plays an important role in the countries’ economy. The Jakarta Concord and the IORA Action Plan, that was adopted at the IORA Leaders' Summit, held in Jakarta on 7 March 2017, highlighted the importance of this sector and also laid out the Association’s focus cooperation in six priority areas and two cross-cutting issues. Since the adoption of the Jakarta Concord and the Action Plan, Member States have been focusing on its implementation. The forthcoming High-Level Panel will provide Member States the opportunity to discuss and deliver tangible recommendations.

 

This meeting will address several priority issues, namely: enhancing Intra-Trade and Investment among Member States; improving Maritime Safety and Security; Physical Regional Connectivity; Sustainable and Responsible Fisheries Management and promoting Tourism and Cultural Cooperation in Indian Ocean.

As a member-driven organization, the success and growth of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) highly depends on the growth and prosperity of its Member States. Located in the rim of the Indian Ocean, IORA Member States places high importance in maritime cooperation, as it is the backbone of their economies.

This importance was reiterated in the outcomes of the IORA Summit, held in Jakarta on 7 March 2017. These outcome documents, namely the Jakarta Concord and the IORA Action Plan, laid out the Association’s focus cooperation in six priority areas and two cross-cutting issues, all of which have heavy focus on maritime cooperation, and to achieve the common objective of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean. Therefore, implementing the Concord and the Action Plan has been the focus of the Association.

Since the IORA Summit in March 2017, efforts have begun in the implementation of the Jakarta Concord and the IORA Action Plan. The working groups mentioned in the IORA Action Plan, namely the Working Group on Maritime Safety and Security, Working Group on Blue Economy, Working Group on Women’s Economic Empowerment, as well as Core Group on Tourism, are beginning to take shape.

In light of these developments, there is a need to ensure that the cooperation bring positive impacts to the economic growth of IORA Member States. To serve this purpose, the Government of Indonesia is hosting the High-Level Panel discussion under the theme of “Enhancing Maritime Cooperation for Inclusive Growth in Indian Ocean Rim Region”.

This dialogue is aimed to facilitate IORA Member States’ governments, experts, and all stakeholders in further discussing the current state of cooperation, including obtaining inputs from related stakeholders and experts.

Objectives

• To provide a set of recommendation on future activities and maritime cooperation to support inclusive growth of IORA Member States;
• To explore further collaboration of IORA Dialogue Partners in strengthening IORA’s efforts in positively contribute to Member States’ economic growth;
• To facilitate a discussion with regard to the level of implementation of the Jakarta Concord and the IORA Action Plan.