Mauritius, 28 June 2021: The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) and France through the Agence Française de Développement (French Development Agency) (AFD) today signed a Financing Agreement that will provide staffing and capacity building support to the IORA Secretariat to the value of 100 000 euros over three years.
France’s support to build the capacity of the IORA Secretariat is a key element of the project to “Strengthen the Capacities of IORA in Promoting the Blue Economy and Fisheries Management”, through technical assistance of 900 000 euros, which was launched in March 2020 with a total value of one million euros over three years. France became a Member State of IORA in December 2020.
“On behalf of all IORA Member States, we thank France for its support to strengthen the Secretariat. This will help us better coordinate and support our Member States’ vision of a peaceful and prosperous Indian Ocean region”, said IORA Acting Secretary-General Gatot H. Gunawan.
‘France through AFD is committed to support the Indian Ocean Rim Association and look forward to enhancing its partnership and collaboration’, said AFD’s Director, Mr André Pouillès-Duplaix.
The IORA Secretariat is based in Mauritius and led by a Secretary-General, supported by seconded Directors from Member States. France’s support will fund additional project-based staff and capacity building for Secretariat officers.
For further information see www.iora.int, www.afd.fr or contact: hq@iora.int.
IORA Secretariat and Agence Française de Développement
