Mauritius, 9 March 2020: The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and France through the Agence Française de Développement (French Development Agency) (AFD) today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for ‘Strengthening the Capacities of IORA in Promoting the Blue Economy and Fisheries Management’.
The MoU was signed at the IORA Secretariat in Ebene CyberCity, Mauritius by Her Excellency Dr. Nomvuyo N. Nokwe, Secretary-General of IORA and Mr. André Pouillès-Duplaix, Director of AFD in Mauritius, in the presence of Mr Jean Lohest, Deputy Head of Mission at the Embassy of the Republic of France to Mauritius.
“On behalf of IORA’s Member States, I welcome France’s commitment to partnering with us to promote a healthy and sustainable blue economy in the Indian Ocean region, in line with IORA’s Jakarta Concord and SDG14 – “Life below water”. Improving regional governance of the Indian Ocean’s resources contributes to the livelihoods of coastal communities, boosting food security, poverty alleviation and employment”, said Secretary-General H.E. Dr. Nomvuyo N. Nokwe.
The partnership will support the implementation of the IORA Action Plan (2017-2021) with an allocation of EUR1 million over three years. It will offer expertise, training, networking and material resources to decision makers, officials and experts working to promote regional cooperation in blue economy and fisheries management issues. In addition, the project will strengthen the capacity of the IORA Secretariat.
The project demonstrates the active participation of France through the Agence Française de Développement as one of IORA’s Dialogue Partners in mutually beneficial collaborative projects with Member States. The project will further add to increasing momentum and interest of IORA Member States in promoting the blue economy as a driver for balanced social and economic development in the region, in an environmentally sustainable way.
IORA is the apex regional organization in the Indian Ocean region with 22 Member States and 10 Dialogue Partners, stretching from South Africa in the west, running up the eastern coast of Africa, along the Gulf to South and Southeast Asia, ending with Australia in the east.
For further information see www.iora.int, www.afd.fr or contact: hq@iora.int.
IORA Secretariat and Agence Française de Développement
