Charting a Route for IORA Under India’s Chairship

Syllabus: GS2/International Relations

Context

• The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is set to witness a transformative phase under India’s chairship starting November 2025 (it is now Vice-Chair).

About the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA)

• It is an intergovernmental organization established in 1997 to foster economic, political, and security cooperation among countries bordering the Indian Ocean, with 23 member states and 12 dialogue partners.

• It focuses on six priority areas:
  • Maritime Security;
  • Trade and Investment Facilitation;
  • Fisheries Management;
  • Disaster Risk Reduction;
  • Academic, Science & Technology Cooperation;
  • Tourism and Cultural Exchanges;
• Secretariat: Mauritius
• Current Chair:Sri Lanka is the current chair (2023-2025).
  • Chairmanship of IORA is rotated among member states every two years, allowing different nations to shape its strategic vision.

Importance of IORA for India

• Geopolitical Leverage: The Indian Ocean is a critical geostrategic zone, connecting major global trade routes.
  • India, as a founding member of IORA, leverages the platform to assert its influence in the region and counterbalance the growing presence of external powers like China.
• Strengthening Regional Ties: IORA provides a platform for India to deepen its engagement with African and Southeast Asian nations, enhancing its Act East (Enhancing engagement with Southeast Asian nations), Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (Strengthening partnerships for sustainable maritime governance).
• Economic Opportunities: The Indian Ocean accounts for 75% of global trade and 50% of daily oil consumption.
  • It produces $1 trillion in goods and services, and its intra-IORA trade was $800 billion in 2023.
  • IORA facilitates trade and investment among member states, boosting India’s economic ties with countries in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.
• Maritime Security: India collaborates with IORA members to address maritime challenges such as piracy, terrorism, and illegal fishing.
  • India seeks to enhance maritime domain awareness through collaborative mechanisms like the Information Fusion Centre – Indian Ocean Region (IFC-IOR) and coordinated naval exercises with IORA nations.
  • The association’s focus on maritime safety and security aligns with India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision.
• Blue Economy: IORA promotes sustainable use of ocean resources, a priority for India as it seeks to harness the potential of its vast coastline and Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) for economic growth.
  • India aims to share best practices in marine resource management, promote eco-friendly policies, and support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in tackling climate change challenges.
• Disaster Risk Management: The Indian Ocean is prone to natural disasters like tsunamis and cyclones.
  • IORA’s initiatives in disaster risk reduction and resilience-building complement India’s efforts in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) and Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) initiative.

India’s Priorities as IORA Chair

• Strategic Importance: India’s Chairship aligns with its broader vision of a free, open, and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.
  • By leading IORA, India is reinforcing its role as a maritime power and a key stakeholder in the Indian Ocean.
• Enhancing Financial Resources: IORA’s budget, primarily dependent on member contributions, is limited.
  • India could explore innovative funding mechanisms such as shipping, oil and gas, and marine tourism industries.
• Leveraging Technology: Digitized record-keeping and efficient data processing could enhance decision-making and policy implementation.
• Capacity Building: India could spearhead the development of maritime-ready courses in collaboration with academic and research institutions.
  • These programs would focus on areas like maritime safety, fisheries management, and disaster risk reduction, addressing the region’s resource-intensive needs.
• Promoting Sustainable Development: Aligning with its SAGAR vision, India can prioritize sustainable practices in fisheries, marine biodiversity conservation, and renewable energy adoption.
• Strengthening Cultural and People-to-People Ties: India’s Chairship emphasizes historical and cultural links among IORA countries.
  • Exchange programs, heritage conservation efforts, and tourism promotion are being pursued to deepen socio-cultural bonds.

Challenges Ahead

• Diverse member interests: Balancing priorities between developed and developing nations.
• Geopolitical rivalries: Managing external influences from China and Western powers.
• Resource constraints: Mobilizing financial and technical resources for large-scale projects.
  • Except for countries like Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and France, most of the member-states are developing Asian and African economies.

Conclusion

• India’s chairship of IORA offers a unique opportunity to shape the future of regional cooperation in the Indian Ocean.
• By focusing on financial sustainability, technological integration, capacity building, and sustainable development, India can strengthen IORA’s foundation and ensure its relevance in addressing the region’s challenges.
• As the world looks to the Indian Ocean for economic and strategic opportunities, India’s leadership could set a precedent for inclusive and effective regional governance.

Source: TH