‘Committed to working together’
Twenty-three members of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) have agreed to work together to work for a free, open and secure Indian Ocean region, which currently faces many challenges, including the competition of control, illegal fishing and piracy.
"We have committed to work together to prevent these threats and promote initiatives to harness the resources," said Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen.
He briefed the outcomes of the two-day IORA Council of Ministers meeting at the capital's Hotel InterContinental yesterday.
Momen said the temperature of the Indian Ocean has already increased, and pollution level is rising.
The Indo-Pacific region has become a global focus of the world powers, especially the US and China. The US has launched an Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, while China launched Belt and Road Initiative. Australia, India, Japan, and the US are part of a strategic security dialogue.
IORA, established in 1995, is an international organisation of 23 states bordering the Indian Ocean and 10 dialogue partners.
"Despite potential for trade and investment, the IORA market isn't fully explored by its member states," Momen said.
"Strengthening economic relations among IORA member states through regional trade agreement and the elimination of intra IORA trade and investment barriers are now more important than ever," he added.
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