Charting a route for IORA under India’s chairship

Charting a route for IORA under India’s chairship

Sub : IR

Sec: Int grouping

Context:

• India, set to takeover chairmanship of IORA from November 2025, aims to strengthen its governance by prioritizing three areas: increasing funding, integrating technology for data management and policy analysis, and creating maritime-ready courses in collaboration with academic and research institutions.

The Indian Ocean Region (IOR):

• The Indian Ocean is a critical geostrategic region, home to two-thirds of the global population, and plays a significant role in global trade, with 75% of global trade and 50% of daily oil consumption passing through it.
• It generates $1 trillion in goods and services, and intra-IORA trade was valued at $800 billion in 2023.
• However, the region faces significant challenges, including poor development, political instability, environmental degradation, and security threats such as piracy and terrorism.

About IORA:

• The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is a regional inter-governmental organization aimed at promoting cooperation between the countries of Asia, Africa, and Australia, all connected through the Indian Ocean.
• It seeks to enhance regional prosperity and address common issues such as maritime safety, environmental degradation, and economic development.
• It was formed in 1997 by an initiative of India and South Africa.
• The Coordinating Secretariat of IORA is located at Ebene, Mauritius.

Membership of IORA:

• The IORA has 23 members and 11 dialogue partners.
• The members include Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South-Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, Maldives, Yemen and France.
• France was the last country to be accepted on the basis of its territory of Reunion Island in the Indian Ocean.

Funding issue:

• One significant issue for IORA is its limited funding, with most member states being developing economies. The budget is insufficient to address growing areas like maritime security, fisheries management, and the blue economy.
• To overcome this, IORA could involve private players in policy-making and funding, particularly from industries linked to the maritime domain.

India’s Role in Strengthening IORA:

• India’s Security and Growth for All (SAGAR) vision aligns with IORA’s objectives.
• As the future chair, India can leverage its strong relationships with other IORA members, such as Australia, France, and Singapore, to foster cooperation in areas like marine science and technology.

Additionally, India can advocate for integrating traditional coastal knowledge from smaller nations like Sri Lanka, Seychelles, and Mauritius to create sustainable marine governance models.