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UPSC » Daily News Analysis ‘India to become Chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in Nov. 2025’ : 22 March

Daily News Analysis ‘India to become Chair of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in Nov. 2025’ : 22 March

Table of Content

About IORA:

    • The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is an intergovernmental regional organization that promotes economic cooperation, trade, and security among Indian Ocean littoral states.
    • Founded: March 1997 in Mauritius with the adoption of the Charter of IORA.
    • Members: 23 coastal states across the Indian Ocean Region.
    • IORA Secretariat: Based in Mauritius.
  • IORA’s Core Objectives:
    • Promote sustainable economic growth and regional development.
    • Enhance maritime safety and security.
    • Strengthen disaster risk management and climate resilience.

India’s Leadership Role in IORA:

  • India will assume the Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in November 2025 for a two-year term. Currently, India is vice chair of IORA.

India’s three priorities as Chair:

  • Increasing funding opportunities to expand IORA’s budget.
  • Integrating technology for data management and policy analysis.
  • Developing maritime-focused academic and research collaborations.

Challenges Faced by IORA

  • Funding Constraints: IORA’s budget is small and dependent on member contributions, mostly from developing countries.
  • Comparative Disadvantage: The Indian Ocean Commission, with only five member countries, has a $1.3 billion budget (2020-25), far exceeding IORA’s financial capacity.
  • Limited Institutional Capacity: The IORA Secretariat, based in Mauritius, has a small staff and struggles with data processing and governance.
  • Security and Sustainability Needs: More investment is required in key areas such as maritime safety, fisheries management, disaster risk reduction, and the blue economy.

Proposed Solutions for IORA’s Strengthening

  • Enhancing Funding:Private-sector involvement through consultative partnerships, including shipping, oil, gas, and marine tourism industries.
  • Leveraging Technology: Digital data management and automation to improve policy analysis and governance efficiency.
  • Expanding Collaborative Avenues: Utilizing expertise from members like Australia (marine research), France and Singapore (marine technology), and UAE/Oman (investment opportunities).
    • Incorporating traditional knowledge from small island nations (Sri Lanka, Seychelles, Mauritius) into sustainable marine governance.

Why in News?

  • India will assume the Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in November 2025, leading the regional body for two years