Hosted by the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the South African Chapter of the Indian Ocean Rim Association Group (SA-IORA), the Fifth IOD was held on 1–2 August 2018.
The Fifth Indian Ocean Dialogue (IOD) was inaugurated by the Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (IORAG), Prof. Narnia Bohler-Muller and Mr Daan du Toit, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Science and Technology of South Africa in the presence of H.E. N. Nokwe, Secretary General of IORA in Durban. In Mr du Toit’s inaugural address, he highlighted that science diplomacy has a crucial role to play in further strengthening the IORA partnership, leveraging the existing valued contribution from the IORAG.
Hosted by the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the South African Chapter of the Indian Ocean Rim Association Group (SA-IORA), the Fifth IOD was held on 1–2 August 2018. Recognising the importance of the IOD as a vibrant platform to discuss regional issues, delegates from Member States and Dialogue Partners of IORA actively engaged in the discussions and put forward various proposals for a sustainable response to challenges within the Indian Ocean Region.
The IOD resulted in the Fifth Indian Ocean Dialogue Consensus. Special focus was drawn on the role of academia in supporting IORA’s goals, peace and development and economic development in the Indian Ocean Rim. Participants also discussed the IOD as an official IORA mechanism to enhance human capacity building, strengthen regional collaboration and partnerships between IORA Member States and Dialogue Partners.
This meeting also marked a milestone for academics and experts within the region by launching ‘The Blue Economy Handbook of the Indian Ocean Region’. This landmark publication provides fresh insights into the various aspects and impacts of the Blue Economy within the region; from shifting paradigms, to an accounting framework, gender dynamics, the law of the sea and renewable energy. The contributions are from a mixture of disciplines by scholars and experts from seven countries.
Recognising the importance of the region’s strengthening architecture, this 1.5 track Forum supports the goals of the IORA Action Plan for 2017-2021 and deepens engagement on research, development, and innovation as well as the role of the IORAG.
