Indian Ocean Rim Association
Also called: IORA · Topic: India and her Neighbours · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is a group of countries whose coasts touch the Indian Ocean. Such coastal countries are called littoral states. It was founded in 1997. Its secretariat (main office) is in Mauritius. Members work together on safe and secure seas, easier trade, the blue economy and handling disasters. The blue economy means using the ocean's wealth, such as fish, ports and shipping, without harming it. India is a founding member. IORA matters because many of the world's busiest sea routes cross the Indian Ocean.
Example
India's long coast faces both the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, and its island groups, Lakshadweep and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, sit inside the Indian Ocean. Through IORA, India works with rim countries in Africa, West Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Australia. These include its maritime neighbours Sri Lanka, Indonesia and Thailand.
Don't confuse with
- BIMSTEC: also founded in 1997, but it covers only the Bay of Bengal region. It has seven members, including landlocked Nepal and Bhutan, and its secretariat is in Dhaka. IORA spans the whole Indian Ocean rim.
- SAARC: a South Asian grouping set up in 1985, with its secretariat in Kathmandu. Members join because they are South Asian, not because they have an Indian Ocean coast.