Bangladesh, the current Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Chair, will focus on developing a mechanism to undertake larger projects, prevent piracy, armed robbery, unregulated fishing and disaster management as the 24th meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) to be held on here November 22-23. Decisions are taken with consensus based on opinions from all and those decisions will be placed at the 22nd IORA Council of Ministers (COM) meeting to be held on November 24. Currently, no project bigger than US$ 80,000 can be taken but projects with unlimited amounts can be taken if the IORA Development Initiative is approved, according to the IORA. There will be minister and state minister-level participation from 18 countries including Bangladesh. Briefing the reporters at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen said they want “free, inclusive, secure and peaceful” navigation for all without any encumbrance in the region. State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md Shahriar Alam, Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit) Rear Admiral (Retd) Md. Khurshed Alam, Secretary (East) Mashfee Binte Shamsand and Secretary (West) Shabbir Ahmad Chowdhury at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present at the media briefing. The Foreign Minister laid emphasis on making the best use of the sea in a more “regulated, progressive and scientific” way. “In the future, we will take on big projects to maximize gain,” said the Foreign Minister. Momen highlighted the priority areas of the IORA - maritime safety and security; trade and investment facilitation, fisheries management, disaster risk management, tourism and cultural exchanges; academic, science and technology cooperation, blue economy and women’s economic empowerment. He said the ministers and state ministers will jointly meet Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during their stay in Dhaka. The Indian Ocean Rim Association is an inter-governmental organisation which was established on 7 March 1997. There are 23 Member States of IORA and 10 dialogue partners.

Bangladesh and the Maldives have agreed to address and counter the threats posed by organised crimes, piracy, narcotic and human trafficking, through multilateral and regional for a, including Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), in the quest of attaining security, stability and peace in the Indian Ocean region. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and President of the Maldives Ibrahim Mohamed Solih agreed on the importance of working together bilaterally, regionally and internationally in combating the rising menace of terrorism, violent extremism and radicalization, according to a joint communiqué issued on Thursday. Both leaders emphasised that the regional organisations such as South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation has an important role to play in promoting regional cooperation in many areas, particularly in combating the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. The Bangladesh side highlighted that the country has assumed the Chairmanship of IORA for the first time, since October 2021 and sought the support of the Maldives for working together towards greater maritime safety and security in the Indian Ocean Region. President Solih congratulated Bangladesh and assured it of Maldives’ cooperation in this regard. Solih thanked Sheikh Hasina for the generous gift of military vehicles, acknowledging the goodwill and friendship extended to the Maldives by the government of Bangladesh. President Solih reaffirmed Maldives’ support to Bangladesh on the issue of the Forcibly Displaced Myanmar nationals.

South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Dr Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor said here on Thursday that the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) will become an important organization upholding its principles noting that they do not want to be dominated by any powerful nation. “We don’t want to be dominated by anybody’s fight with another country, nor do we wish to be told what to do,” she told reporters after attending a programme organized by the Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS). The point the South African minister raised is that they “must not become subject to the whims” of more powerful countries and mentioned that within IORA they have set out their programmes in a very carefully planned manner. “We’re not subject to the conflicts among more powerful nations.” Even those who are coming to IORA as partners, she said, they consider them as dialogue partners but they are not full members. Also read: Bangladesh assumes IORA chairmanship; eyes inclusive development “We’re the members of those who are on the Indian Ocean Rim. Others have an interest and they wish to work with us. But we always guard our essential being. This is the point that I was making,” she said, adding that they do not close the door for anybody but do not want to be dominated by anybody. On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen reiterated that they want to see an open, free, peaceful and inclusive Indian Ocean instead of any single country or group’s domination in the region. Bangladesh, the current chair of IORA, has said it will make clear its position over the Indo-Pacific region in the days to come as the government is currently working on it. “We’ll make our position clear regarding the Indo-Pacific. We’re working on it,” said Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen on Wednesday. He referred to the joint statement between Bangladesh and France where a paragraph was included on the Indo-Pacific. At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina paid an official visit to France earlier this month. Bangladesh and France shared the same vision for a “free, open, peaceful, secure and inclusive” Indo-Pacific region, based on international law and with shared prosperity for all, according to the joint statement. Taking note of the French and European strategies concerning the Indo-Pacific, both parties agreed to work towards promoting regional peace and stability and to explore further opportunities for cooperation in maritime security and the blue economy. Highlighting their commitment to fully observing the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes, refraining from any threat or use of force, they stated the importance of maintaining security and freedom of navigation and overflight in all seas and oceans. Foreign Secretary Masud Momen said some countries have taken some initiatives on the Indo-Pacific Strategy and these countries are sharing their policy separately. He named the European Union (EU), the United States and own position in some countries in the EU. Also read: Focus on blue economy: PM to IORA states The Foreign Secretary said it is likely to be difficult to get a position from an organization like IORA while it is relatively easy for a country. He said the IORA member countries will be able to share their ideas and it will be discussed elaborately in the next meeting to be held in July next year. Responding to a question, Maritime Affairs Unit (MAU) Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rear Admiral (Retd) Md Khurshed Alam Secretary (MAU) Khurshed Alam said Indo-Pacific is still an evolving issue and it is not clear yet. While talking to the UNB recently, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the EU to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley said the growth is happening in the region and it is a vast area. “The Indo-Pacific strategy really ties in well with our new priorities to Bangladesh. There’s an opportunity to inject more energy into the Bangladesh-EU relationship,” he said, highlighting the importance of connectivity, green transition, free trade and people to people link. A joint communiqué on the “EU Strategy” for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific has been adopted recently, saying the European Union is stepping up its strategic engagement with the Indo-Pacific region as the region is increasing in strategic importance for Europe. The EU thinks the future of the EU and the Indo-Pacific is interlinked. The EU is already the top investor, the leading development cooperation partner and one of the biggest trading partners in the Indo-Pacific region. Ambassador Whiteley said they will be deeply engaging in renewable energy, regional energy and will help the transformation of Bangladesh energy system. He said there is a lot of energy behind the relationship with development cooperation and trade benefits are there in place. Bangladesh assumed the chairmanship of IORA for the next two years with the theme – “Harnessing the opportunities of the Indian Ocean sustainability for inclusive development.” “This event has been very special to Bangladesh,” said the Foreign Minister while briefing the reporters on the outcome of the 21st Meeting of the Council of Ministers (COM) held in a city hotel on Wednesday evening. The theme selected by Bangladesh was “profusely appreciated” by the member countries and the dialogue partners of IORA, he said.

Bangladesh has urged the Member States and Dialogue Partners of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) to formulate and implement projects for economic cooperation relating to trade facilitation and liberalization, promotion of investment, scientific and technological exchanges.   Bangladesh will assume the charge of the Chair of IORA from November 2021 for two year tenure, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Bangladesh has seconded a Director to IORA Secretariat recently. Also read: Dhaka seeks joint efforts to implement IORA's new Action Plan  The 11th IORA bi-annual meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) was held virtually on June 15-16. Delegations from 23 Member States of IORA participated in the CSO meeting. Bangladesh, the current Vice-chair of the IORA, participated in the meeting with a delegation led by Rear Admiral (retd) Md. Khurshed Alam, Secretary (Maritime Affairs), Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Vice-chair of the IORA, Secretary Alam highlighted IORA’s importance as a platform to collectively pursue a concerted, comprehensive and suitable response for facing the specific challenges due to COVID-19 pandemic. He also requested for further commitment for implementing and integrating the IORA Concord; IORA Action Plan; Mauritius, Jakarta and Dhaka Declaration in national development paradigm. Also read:  IORA starts addressing regional, global issues: Dhaka A number of important issues were discussed during this CSO meeting including nomination of Sheikh Fazle Fahim, President, FBCCI as the next chair of Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORBF), update on Ad-hoc Working Group (AhWG) for the eligibility and criteria for selecting the Secretary-General, inclusion of Russia as Dialogue Partner, Signature of IORA Instrument of Acceptance by France as a new IORA member, preparation of next Action Plan (2022-2026). Secretary Alam expressed his deepest gratitude to the current Chair, Government of United Arab Emirates for hosting the CSO amid the pandemic and thanked all the member states for their well-thought and prolific interventions, comments and deliberations. He invited all to join the next 23rd Committee of Senior Officials’ and 21st Council of Ministers’ meeting due in November this year to be hosted by Bangladesh as Chair.  

Bangladesh has sought cooperation from Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) member states for implementing the new Action Plan through concerted efforts as Bangladesh is set to become Chair of the IORA in the last quarter of this year. Secretary (Maritime Affairs Unit), Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (Retd.) Md. Khurshed Alam made the request on Thursday while attending a workshop. Bangladesh, current Vice Chair of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), hosted the workshop virtually to discuss the second IORA Action Plan. Also read: IORA starts addressing regional, global issues: Dhaka Around 50 senior officials from the 22 member states of IORA participated in the daylong workshop. Khurshed Alam led the Bangladesh delegation. Secretary Alam highlighted the evolution of IORA into a forum that has started to address regional and global issues of both human security and human development across several continents.  He stressed that the Second IORA Action Plan should be result-oriented, action-oriented, inclusive, comprehensive, and aligned to the objectives of the IORA.  Alam hoped that the workshop would be able to lead us to a well-structured, farsighted and pragmatic Action Plan that will minutely address all the opportunities and challenges of this region. Also read: PM to inaugurate 3rd IORA Blue Economy Ministerial Conference Thursday Bangladesh played a pivotal role in discussions during the workshop and conveyed thought-provoking suggestions and fruitful inputs for the Second IORA Action Plan including the format and structure of the new Action Plan, said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Discussions on the IORA Strategic Vision were held, and member states were also requested to agree on the proposed format and structure of the new IORA Action Plan.

Speakers at a webinar on Tuesday sought stronger trade partnership and collaboration between Bangladesh and South Korea; and suggested exploring a free-trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.