By Shruti Menon Seeboo
The Indian Ocean, a vast expanse of turquoise waters, has long served as a vital trade route connecting continents. But beyond commerce, the countries bordering this majestic ocean share a rich tapestry of cultures, traditions, and challenges. Recognising this interconnectedness, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) emerged as a platform for regional cooperation and sustainable development.
Established in 1997, IORA brings together 23 member states – from vibrant democracies like India and South Africa to island nations like Seychelles and Mauritius. The association fosters collaboration in six key areas: maritime security, trade and investment facilitation, fisheries management, disaster risk reduction, academic and scientific cooperation, and tourism promotion and cultural exchanges.
One of IORA’s primary goals is to promote economic prosperity within the region. This involves facilitating trade by simplifying customs procedures and harmonising regulations. IORA also encourages foreign direct investment by creating a more investor-friendly environment. Initiatives like the IORA Business Forum connect businesses from member states, fostering partnerships and knowledge sharing.
Maritime security is another crucial focus area. IORA member states collaborate to combat piracy, illegal fishing, and marine pollution. They also work together to ensure the safety of navigation and conduct joint search and rescue operations. By promoting a peaceful and secure maritime environment, IORA facilitates the free flow of trade and resources within the Indian Ocean.
Beyond economic and security concerns, IORA recognises the importance of social development. The organisation works towards improving healthcare, education, and environmental sustainability in the region. Initiatives like the IORA Action Plan on Women’s Empowerment in the region address gender inequality and promote women’s participation in various sectors. Additionally, IORA facilitates knowledge sharing in areas like disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, helping member states build resilience against natural calamities.
Culturally, IORA celebrates the rich diversity of the Indian Ocean region. The organisation promotes cultural exchanges through programs like the IORA Academic and Training Programs. These programs allow students and professionals from member states to collaborate on research projects and attend workshops, fostering intercultural understanding and promoting a sense of regional identity.
Looking ahead, IORA remains committed to strengthening regional cooperation and promoting a prosperous and sustainable future for the Indian Ocean region. By fostering regional cooperation and promoting sustainable development, IORA plays a vital role in shaping a brighter future for the countries bordering the Indian Ocean. As the organisation continues its journey, it paves the way for a more integrated, prosperous, and resilient Indian Ocean region We speak with Dr. Salman Al Farisi, Secretary-General of IORA, and he sheds light on the association’s plans for the year ahead. Excerpts:
- Following the successful IORA Day 2024 celebrations in Mauritius, what are your key takeaways from the event’s theme, “Ensuring a Sustainable Indian Ocean for Future Generations: Our Ocean Our Life”? Did the member state participation from Mauritius and others offer any insights or areas for further collaboration?
IORA Day 2024 event in Mauritius was a day celebrating the richness of the IORA’s Member States cultures and diversity. It was a cultural partnership event participated by Member States and Dialogue Partners to share and to show their culture and culinary to the public in Mauritius. We received very positive feedback from the participants from Member States and Dialogue Partners that the event provided opportunity for them to nurture and develop cultural bond and to generate business opportunities. It is worth noting that the similar celebration was also organised in Pretoria and Durban, South Africa; Colombo, Sri Lanka; and New Delhi, India.
2. Looking ahead, what are some concrete steps IORA plans to take in the coming year to advance its goals related to sustainable development within the Indian Ocean region? Are there any specific initiatives or programs planned that build upon the momentum from IORA Day 2024?
The successful IORA Day 2024 event in Mauritius highlighted the importance of strengthening people-to-people contacts among IORA Member States and Dialogue Partners. IORA will continue to promote programme for strengthening people-to-people contact in gradual manners.
Going forward, we will continue working with Member States and Dialogue Partners to initiate and to organise many capacities building programmes, including Workshops, Seminars and Training on IORA priority areas. IORA will continue promoting norm setting relating to sustainable and inclusive growth, including on blue economy. Indonesia and France are now leading the process of developing IORA Guideline to combat IUU Fishing in Indian Ocean with a view to be adopted by the Minister this year.
3. The theme for IORA Day 2024 emphasises the importance of collaboration amongst member states. How can individuals and organisations outside of government structures contribute to IORA’s goals and collectively work towards ensuring a sustainable Indian Ocean for future generations?
IORA has been working closely not only with the government in the Member States, but also with other actors outside of government, such as businessmen, academician, think-tank, students. IORA Secretariat has been working with IORA Blue Carbon and International Seabed Authority (ISA) to provide opportunities for scientists from IORA Member States to participate in their fellowships and training programme.
Under IORA Sustainable Development Programme, Seychelles is now implementing project “Ocean Knowledge Education Programme to strengthen the Blue Economy concept in the IORA region – A pilot study incorporating “Sustainable Ocean Management” into the curriculum for 12 to 13 years old. This is also part of our efforts to ensure a sustainable Indian Ocean for future generation. We continue developing close ties with many stakeholders in collaborative manners to ensure that the programmes and projects of IORA have bigger socio-economic impact in Member States.
4. The recent IORA Day open fair in Mauritius showcased women entrepreneurs. How can IORA, under your leadership, further amplify and support women-led businesses in the tourism sector across member states?
IORA is proud to have a Working Group dedicated to Women, namely the Working Group on Women’s Economic Empowerment (WGWEE) which regroups government representative, mostly from Ministry of Gender and Economy from 23 IORA Member States. It is to be highlighted that the working group focuses not only on women empowerment but also on their economic empowerment to create an environments which would promote women led businesses across the Indian Ocean. Hence, through the working group, we look forward to having collaborations and activities led by Member States which will promote women economic empowerment across IORA priority areas, including the tourism sector.
5. Beyond policy, how can IORA encourage cultural shifts within the region to dismantle traditional gender barriers and promote inclusive opportunities for women in tourism?
IORA is already shaking pre-set stereotypes, with the Islamic Republic of Iran being the Chair of its working group on women’s economic empowerment. In accordance, during the second week of March, a delegation of Iranian leading businesswomen, scholars and academics paid a courtesy visit to the Secretary General, in view of Iran incoming Chairship and the launch of the Iranian cultural week, where these women, exhibited their skills and products to the Mauritian Public. When it comes to women in tourism, it is for Member States to promote inclusivity. At the level of IORA, in 2022, we launched the Gender Pledge, which encourage the active participation of women at decision making level, which in turn will benefit citizens of member states.
6. The “IORA Workshop on Nature-Based Tourism & Lessons Learned from COVID-19” highlighted the importance of collaboration. How can IORA foster greater knowledge sharing and collaboration between member states to develop sustainable and inclusive tourism practices that benefit the entire region?
One of the key objectives of the Core Group of Tourism is encouraging the sustainable development of community-based tourism and eco-tourism through the promotion and strengthening of regional tourism networks.
Mauritius held the Chairship of Core Group on Tourism (CGT), which included the responsibility for managing of the Work Plan from December 2021 until January 2024. During its tenure it chose as a core theme the Promotion of Nature-based Tourism, which underscores its status as a Small Island Developing State that is experiencing the impacts of climate change, including threats to its tourism sector, and efforts to sustainably address post-covid economic recovery. Globally, nature-based tourism has emerged as one of the fastest growing tourism trends in the post-COVID-19 period. This includes the promotion of sustainable use of resources, regional sustainable development, and respect of local societal and cultural norms.
Last year, Mauritius, in its capacity at the Chair of the CGT, hosted in collaboration with IORA the following workshops:
- Virtual workshop – “Capacity building directly targeted at women owned and led tourism operators/businesses in the Indian Ocean region to mitigate COVID’s impact on women” in March 2023, and
- In-person workshop – “Nature-Based Tourism and Lessons Learned from COVID-19” from 03-05 May 2023, at Maritim Resort & Spa, Balaclava, Mauritius.
The workshop was funded under the IORA Sustainable Development Programme (ISDP) for IORA Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developing Countries (LDCS). The workshop regrouped policymakers and tourism stakeholders across the Indian Ocean Rim to discuss best practices and strategize on how local communities could use nature-based tourism to improve their livelihoods and build resilience post-COVID.
7. Data is crucial for informing policy decisions on gender equality. How can IORA facilitate the collection and analysis of data on women’s participation in the tourism sector across member states?
In practice, in IORA working groups meeting, member states often reports on their achievement regarding different items. Hence, IORA can be a platform which regroups the data, already being captured in Member State respective countries. IORA, in fact, facilitate the liaison between the different countries, and has the capacity to covey communications to all IORA member states through established focal points in every Ministry of Foreign Affairs of its member states. Hence, would there be an interest in IORA member state to capture date regarding women’s participation in the tourism sector, the IORA Secretariat can facilitate the transmission and collection of the data.
8. What are some of the biggest challenges hindering the advancement of gender equality in the region’s tourism sector? How can IORA, in collaboration with member states, address these challenges?
In general, the main challenge in advancing gender equality in most sector, is that it is not the priority of the country, having other issues to address. Hence, at IORA, Member States recognised that Gender Equality was not a standalone priority, but instead, it cross-cut through all sectors of society.
Hence, Women Economic Empowerment, beyond being a priority area for IORA’s member states, is also recognised as a cross-cutting issues. Hence, IORA provide the platform to address gender inequality in all its priority areas, including that of tourism.
9. Looking ahead, what are your key priorities for promoting women’s empowerment and leadership roles within the IORA tourism work plan?
At IORA, the IORA Gender Pledge, requires a ratio of 40:40:20 to men, to women and any of both, in all IORA events and activities. Hence this pledge encourages, that by 2030, every working group, i.e at the level of decision-making, women are equitably represented, with specific requirements of having speaking roles at high-level meetings. This is accordingly applicable to all activities under the IORA Tourism workplan.
10. Beyond tourism, how can IORA’s work in other sectors, like trade and education, contribute to the overall advancement of gender equality within the region?
Indeed, through the Working Group on Women’s Economic Empowerment (WGWEE), IORA addresses the question of gender equality, in all aspects of the economy. Member States are invited to state their achievements in terms of promoting women economic empowerment at the bi-annual Working Group Meeting, and further, are encouraged to propose regional projects with the aim of achieving gender equality in the region. IORA further, through its funding mechanism, support Member States in implementing these projects.
11, What message would you like to give to young women in the Indian Ocean Rim who aspire to careers in tourism or leadership roles within the association?
I would encourage young women, to believe in their capabilities, and to seize every opportunity that come their way to achieve their goals, if their dream is to work in tourism or international relations (IORA). Every small step matter, and women have what it takes to lead the world. As at date, many representatives from our Member States are women, the more so the Chairperson of the Committee of Senior Official (one of our two main primary body) is a woman. Young women should not stop when barriers come on their way, but rather, always aim at breaking the glass ceiling, and further keep in mind that cooperation between men are women, are key to achieve gender equality.
12. The Indian Ocean is a crucial resource for African nations bordering it. How can IORA, under your leadership, leverage its platform to foster collaboration between member states for the development of a sustainable Blue Economy in the Indian Ocean region, particularly benefiting African nations?
Blue Economy is one of the cross-cutting issue of the Association. Since its introduction in IORA in 2014, Member States are committed to make this sector a driver for a balanced socio-economic growth and sustainable development. We have made substantial progress, including the establishment of the Working Group on Blue Economy and the Core Group on Fisheries Management.
Several related capacity building programmes and projects covering a wide range of topics on blue economy have also been implemented. Some of IORA projects on blue economy have been implemented in African countries and also participated by IORA’s member states from African countries, including (i) training workshop on Best Practices in Sea cucumber and seaweed tubular farming in Tanzania in 2022, (ii) training workshop on blue carbon in Madagascar.
We realize that advancing blue economy agenda in the region is never an easy task and we need to strengthen partnership with other stakeholders, including international and regional organisations.
We are now finalizing our MoU with Sub-Regional Office Eastern Africa of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) on collaboration framework towards cooperation in the area of Blue Economy. This MoU will provide opportunity for IORA Member States to not only collaborate with 14 Eastern African countries members of UNECA, but also to ensure that our partnership will also be beneficial to advance blue economy sector in African countries.
13. The tourism sector in many African nations bordering the Indian Ocean offers significant potential. How can IORA facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity building initiatives specifically focused on empowering women in tourism within these African member states?
IORA is a member state driven organisation; therefore, Member States are to initiate any project or may decide of the direction the organisation wishes to take. Hence, would Member State wish to undertake projects with the aim of empowering women in tourism, through knowledge sharing and capacity building, they may apply for up to 50 %, or up to 90 % of total funding for SIDS and LDCs countries, at the organisation, and if these aligns with the set criteria, funding shall be provided. IORA further, when it comes to implementation of these projects, facilitates communication among member states and its dialogue partners.
14. Piracy and other maritime security threats remain a concern in the Indian Ocean. How can IORA work with African member states to strengthen regional cooperation and address these shared security challenges?
To strengthen regional cooperation and address piracy and other maritime security threats in the Indian Ocean, the Indian Ocean Rim Association collaborates with African Member States through Information Sharing & Capacity Building.
IORA also supports the development and implementation of legal frameworks to combat piracy and other maritime crimes. This include enhancing national legislation and promoting adherence to international maritime conventions and agreements such as the United Nations Convention in the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
