The Council of Ministers (COM) is IORA’s peak decision-making body, bringing together ministers annually to discuss policy and agree on future strategic directions. Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Tim Watts MP, attended the COM in Colombo in October 2023. 

The COM is supported by the biannual meetings of the Committee of Senior Officials.
IORA has working groups for each of its priority areas. Comprising of experts in the priority area, working groups meet regularly to advance cooperation and share best practice.

IORA also has other mechanisms, including the Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORABF) and Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (IORAG), and specialised agencies which meet regularly to support IORA’s objectives.

The First IORA Leaders' Summit in Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of IORA and its related meetings were held in Jakarta, Indonesia between 5 and 7 March 2017. The summit produced a number of noteworthy outcomes, including:

• Adoption of the Jakarta Concord
• Adoption of the Declaration on Preventing and Countering Terrorism and Violent Extremism
• IORA Action Plan (2017-2021)

Further information can be found on the IORA secretariat website.