The Maldives has expressed commitment to the common principles enshrined in the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Charter and called on member states to revive the true spirit of regional cooperation. The Maldives made the statement at the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the IORA held in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel represented the Maldives at the meeting, which was held under the theme Harnessing the Opportunities of the Indian Ocean Sustainably for Inclusive Development. The meeting was hosted by Bangladesh, the current Chair of IORA.
In a statement to the Council of Ministers, State Minister Khaleel drew attention to the risks and exposure that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face due to the effects of climate change. He called upon member states to share experiences and technologies, pass knowledge and work together to protect the environment of the Indian Ocean.
The meeting brought together ministers from the 23 member states of IORA in which they reiterated their commitment to supporting IORA to play a significant role in promoting sustainable and inclusive development in the Indian Ocean through constructive dialogue and concerted efforts as well as to address challenges and key issues in collaboration with dialogue partners. The Dhaka Communiqué was adopted at the end of the meeting.
IORA is a leading inter-governmental organisation formed in 1997 to enhance regional and socio-economic cooperation and development among the Indian Ocean Region countries. The Maldives formally joined IORA in 2019, as its 22nd member state. The 22nd Council of Ministers meeting was preceded by the 24th Committee of Senior Officials meeting that took place in Dhaka from November 22-23.