19th IORA Council of Ministers Meeting on 7 November 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the incoming IORA Chair, will host the 19th IORA Council of Ministers (COM) Meeting on 7 November 2019 in Abu Dhabi under the theme of “Promoting a Shared Destiny and Path to Prosperity in the Indian Ocean”.

At the COM, the UAE will assume the Chairship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for the period 2019-2021.  The Chairship passes from the Republic of South Africa, which has been IORA Chair for the period 2017-2019. The People’s Republic of Bangladesh will assume the position of Vice Chair of IORA (also for 2019-2021), and form part of the Troika along with the UAE (as incoming Chair) and South Africa (as past Chair).

The UAE, as a maritime nation, recognises the enduring importance of the ancient trade routes connecting the Middle East to South and Southeast Asia, and coastal East Africa which heralded the dawn of globalisation in the Indian Ocean region.  The Indian Ocean continues to bind IORA Member States through not only trade exchanges, but also shared ideas. It is in this light that the UAE will Chair IORA under the theme of "Promoting a Shared Destiny and Path to Prosperity in the Indian Ocean."

The upcoming meetings will provide IORA Member States and Dialogue Partners with an excellent opportunity to discuss ways in which they can move forward together in achieving their vision of a peaceful, prosperous, and integrated Indian Ocean region.

The Ministers' meeting will be preceded by the 21st Committee of Senior Officials’ Meeting (CSO) on 5-6 November 2019. The CSO meets twice a year in order to review progress made by the organisation and to make recommendations for endorsement and approval by the COMM. The forthcoming CSO Meeting will receive updates on some of the major projects being implemented under the IORA Action Plan (2017-2021).

A summary of the meetings' schedule is as follows:

• 5 November – 6 November 2019 – 21st Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO);
• 6 November (afternoon) - Interactive Dialogue Session between IORA Senior Officials and Dialogue Partners; and
• 7 November 2019 – 19th IORA Council of Ministers (COM).

For more information about the COM and CSO, click here.