Indian Ocean Rim Association News

The stranding of the MV Wakashio is one of the biggest environmental disasters in the history of the western Indian Ocean. While the full scale of the disaster is not yet known, the 1,000 tons of oil and diesel that leaked close to one of the greatest marine treasures of Mauritius threatens to destroy this precious habitat. Recovery will be long and the disaster will occupy Mauritius for years to come.Questions now arise: could the accident and the spill have been prevented? Was the country prepared?

Indian Minister for Shipping Nitin Gadkari has said that Blue Economy is very crucial for India’s economic development. said India has a strategic location in the Indian Ocean region, and on this basis, it endorses the growth of the Blue Economy in a sustainable, inclusive and people centred manner through the framework of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).He said, India is developing its maritime infrastructure as well as its inland waterways and coastal shipping through the launch of the ambitious “Sagarmala Programme” which will revolutionize maritime logistics and port led developments in the country.He further  said that India’s…

India on Wednesday signed four agreements with the Indian Ocean island nation Seychelles to boost security and maritime partnership. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with Seychelles President James Alix Michel and said Seychelles "is a vital partner in our Indian Ocean neighbourhood". The two nations signed four agreements for cooperation in hydrography, renewable energy, infrastructure development and hydrographic survey for maritime cooperation. Another important agreement is for infrastructure development in the Assumption Island. Modi hoped that Seychelles will soon become a full partner in the maritime security cooperation between India, Maldives and Sri Lanka. "Seychelles is a leader in advancing the concept of Blue Economy.

Indonesia is gearing up to turn its foreign policy focus westward when its role as Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) chair begins later this year, reports Jakarta Post. The country is ready to expand the promotion of President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo’s “maritime axis” doctrine to the Indian Ocean when it takes over the IORA chairmanship from Australia, later this year, Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi has said. Boosting IORA’s visibility, both internally and externally, will be one of the main tasks as chairman, Retno said. She believes there are very few Indonesians aware of IORA. Activities that make IORA more visible need to be intensified during our chairmanship.