IORA FORGES REGIONAL COOPERATION AGAINST TERRORISM By Fardah

Jakarta, March 17, 2017 (Antara) - Identifying terrorism as a global challenge, nations located in the Indian Ocean rim have shown determination to maintain security and stability to protect the region from terrorism.

         For this, member countries of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, (IORA) during its first summit held in Jakarta, early March 2017, issued a Declaration on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism, which is expected to have a significant influence on economic cooperation across the Indian Ocean region.

         In the declaration, the member states have denounced terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations.

         They have resolved to stand together to prevent and counter terrorism and violent extremism, and to work to support each other's efforts to counter the threat from terrorism and violent extremism, including through enhanced cooperation and coordination of efforts, dialogue and sharing of information, expertise, best practices and experiences, as well as by stemming the funding for terrorism.

         They have agreed to cooperate against terrorist and violent extremist ideology and propaganda by, promoting positive messages of respect, tolerance, co-existence, inclusion, diversity and social cohesion, among others.    
    Besides these, they have also vowed to promote the role of education and society in building resilience against violent extremism, including fostering inclusion and respect for different cultures and beliefs, as well as enhancing women's role in preventing and countering terrorism and violent extremism.

IORA BELIEVES WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT CRUCIAL TO IMPROVE PUBLIC WELFARE by Fardah

Jakarta, March 8, 2017 (Antara) - The issue of women's empowerment has been taken up as one of the priorities in regional cooperation among the 21 member countries of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

         Certainly, this has happened, thanks to three female foreign affairs ministers who actively promoted the importance of women's empowerment in order to improve public welfare, while chairing the IORA Council of Ministers' Meeting held in Jakarta on March 6, 2017.

         The three female ministers were Indonesian Minister of Foreign Affairs Retno Marsudi as the chair of the ministers' meeting and her two counterparts, namely Maite Nkoana-Mashabane as the vice chair of the meeting from South Africa, and Julie Bishop as the former chair from Australia.   
    "This is an exceptional occasion where there are three female figures leading the IORA ministerial level meeting " Retno stated.

         Retno considered the occasion to match with one of the priority areas discussed in the summit, namely women empowerment.

         Her Australian counterpart Bishop viewed that economic empowerment of women is a necessary step for the economy to flourish in the region.

         The IORA groups Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, and Yemen.

GOLDEN ERA OF INDIAN OCEAN REGION BEGINS by Fardah

Jakarta, March 7 , 2017 (Antara) - The Atlantic Ocean region had enjoyed a golden era for many decades, and it was followed by the glorious era of the Pacific Ocean region for the last three decades.

        Currently, it is believed that it is the turn of the Indian Ocean region to experience a golden era, given its huge economic potential and increased awareness of the nations in the region to move forward and progress.

         Such form of optimism was voiced by several leaders, including President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), while hosting the First Summit of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in Jakarta, on March 7, 2017.   
     The 2017 IORA Summit is being held under the theme "Strengthening Maritime Cooperation for Peaceful, Stable and Prosperous Indian Ocean" and coincides with the 20th anniversary of the association.

          "In Indonesia, we believe that the Indian Ocean is currently developing into a key axis in the world," Jokowi stated in his opening remarks.

         The Atlantic Ocean has dominated the world events for hundreds of years. Following rapid progress in several East Asian countries, many believed that it has become the era of the Pacific Ocean for the last three decades.

        "However, we believe that at present, the Indian Ocean is flexing (its might), with significant progress of its community, and its economy is playing a significant role in East Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia," he stated.

TRANSFORMING IORA INTO ARENA OF COOPERATION IN INDIAN OCEAN REGION by Fardah

Jakarta, Oct 26, 2016 (Antara) - The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) has transformed into a premier arena of cooperation within 20 years of its existence in the Indian Ocean region.

         The group carries a solid and firm commitment to promote cooperation and closer interaction among its members.

         Established in Mauritius in March 1997, the association includes South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Uni Comoros and Yemen.

         Since 2011, the group has been focusing on six areas of priority, namely maritime safety and security, trade and investment facilitation, fisheries management, disaster risk management, academic and science and technology cooperation, and tourism and cultural exchanges.

          Moreover, in 2015, IORA had also agreed to elevate the regional cooperation to a new level by working on IORA Concord and convening IORA Summit in 2017.

         Given the facts that the Indian Ocean is the world's third largest ocean and a critical highway for global trade, IORA has become a strategic forum.

         Furthermore, the region is brimming with abundant natural resources, including minerals, fishes and oil and gas, which have not been tapped optimally.