Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)

IOR-ARC was established in 1997 to promote cooperation in the Indian Ocean region. It seeks to expand mutually beneficial cooperation through a consensus-based, evolutionary and non-intrusive approach. IOR-ARC is the only regional forum linking most countries on the Indian Ocean rim through an annual Foreign Ministers' meeting.

In 2011 six priority areas of cooperation were identified for IOR-ARC. These include: Maritime Safety and Security, Trade and Investment Facilitation, Fisheries Management, Disaster Risk Management, Academic and Science & Technology Cooperation, and Tourism and Cultural Exchanges.

Members

The Association comprises 20 member states:

• Australia
• Bangladesh
• Comoros
• India
• Indonesia
• Iran
• Kenya
• Madagascar
• Malaysia
• Mauritius
• Mozambique
• Oman
• Seychelles
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• Tanzania
• Thailand
• United Arab Emirates
• Yemen

Dialogue partners

The Association also has 6 dialogue partners:

• China
• Egypt
• France
• Japan
• United Kingdom
• United States

Observers

The Indian Ocean Tourism Organisation and the Indian Ocean Research Group are observers.

Development of IOR-ARC

IOR-ARC is characterised by consensus decision making and minimal institutionalisation. At the IOR-ARC Ministerial Meeting in August 2010, a new Charter was endorsed.

The 2010 IOR-ARC Charter states that the organisation's primary objective is to promote the sustained growth and balanced development of the region and of member states, and to create common ground for regional economic cooperation.

The IOR-ARC Charter lists areas of cooperation including trade facilitation and liberalisation, promotion of foreign investment, scientific and technological exchanges, tourism, movement of natural persons and service providers on a non-discriminatory basis; and the development of infrastructure and human resources inter-alia poverty alleviation, promotion of maritime transport and related matters, cooperation in the fields of fisheries trade, research and management, aquaculture, education and training, energy, IT, health, protection of the environment, agriculture, and disaster management.

India became the Chair of IOR-ARC in November 2011 for a two-year period. Past IOR-ARC Chairs include Mauritius (1997-1998); Mozambique (1999-2000); Oman (2001-2002); Sri Lanka 2003-2005); Iran (2006-2008); and Yemen (2009-2011).

IOR-ARC meetings

The Council of Ministers (COM) is IOR-ARC's peak decision-making body. The COM is usually attended by Foreign Ministers. The Academic Group (IORAG), Business Forum (IORBF), Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI) are the three working-level bodies. The Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) considers proposals from these bodies and makes recommendations to the COM for final approval.

• Council of Ministers (COM)
  • Committee of Senior Officials (CSO)
    • Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI)
    • Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORBF)
    • Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (IORAG)

All the IOR-ARC bodies meet together once a year, just before the annual COM. In 2010, it was decided that the CSO would meet twice yearly and the first inter-sessional senior officials meeting was held in Canberra in March 2011.

2012 Gurgaon Communiqué

Australia's Involvement in IOR-ARC

Australia was a founding member of IOR-ARC. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has responsibility for IOR-ARC policy, in consultation with other relevant agencies.

At the November 2011 Council of Ministers’ (COM) meeting in Bengaluru, India, Australia was appointed as Vice Chair of IOR-ARC for the first time for a two-year period.  Australia will assume the Chair after India for a two-year period from late 2013 to late 2015.

Contact

Email: iorarc@dfat.gov.au