The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Secretariat commemorated IORA Day 2026 by hosting a reception on 10 March 2026 at its headquarters in Ebene, Mauritius. Diplomats from IORA Member States and Dialogue Partners, senior officials, and representatives of the Secretariat attended the event. The occasion provided an opportunity to celebrate the founding of IORA, reinforce diplomatic engagement, and reaffirm shared commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable development.
Established on 7 March 1997, IORA, an Intergovernmental Organisation of the Indian Ocean region, comprises 23 Member States and 12 Dialogue Partners. Its founding vision, championed by President Nelson Mandela, emphasised regional collaboration as a foundation for peace, prosperity, and balanced economic development.
Key achievements over the past 29 years include strengthening regional frameworks through six Priority Areas: Maritime Safety and Security; Trade and Investment Facilitation; Fisheries Management; Academic, Science and Technology Cooperation; Disaster Risk Management; and Tourism and Cultural Exchanges, along with two Cross-Cutting Issues: Blue Economy and Women’s Economic Empowerment. IORA has delivered landmark initiatives, including Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Guidelines, Principle Guidelines on Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing, the Strategic Framework on Marine Debris, and the Climate Change Strategic Agenda.
The IORA Special Fund has supported numerous projects enhancing capacities, promoting regional collaboration, and fostering partnerships with Dialogue Partners and regional organisations. Institutional mechanisms such as the Indian Ocean Dialogue, Centres of Excellence, and Specialised Agencies continue to provide platforms for policy dialogue, research, and capacity building.
In an interview to mark IORA Day 2026, the IORA Secretary-General underscored the growing relevance of IORA in addressing both regional and global challenges, highlighting that climate change resilience must be integrated into infrastructure, development planning, and policy frameworks to mitigate long-term risks. He emphasised that a safe and secure maritime order in the Indian Ocean is a prerequisite for sustaining global trade, energy flows, and supply chains. The IORA Secretary-General further noted that enhancing the capacity of the IORA Secretariat and delivering tangible benefits to Member States are central to ensuring that all stakeholders, Member States, Dialogue Partners, and regional organisations, derive maximum value from their engagement with IORA, reinforcing the Association’s strategic significance in promoting sustainable development, stability, and prosperity across the region.
As IORA approaches its third decade, it remains committed to deepening regional cooperation, advancing practical solutions to shared challenges, and ensuring that its Member States and partners derive clear, long-term benefits from their engagement with the Association.
