India has greeted all member States and dialogue partners of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) marking the 25th anniversary of the inter-governmental organization. “On the 25th anniversary of IORA, India, a founding member of IORA, congratulates all its Member States, dialogue partners,” Arindam Bagchi, official spokesperson at the Ministry of External Affairs, tweeted on Monday. He said IORA is the premier mechanism of regional cooperation for peace and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region. Under the chairmanship of Bangladesh for the period 2021-23, IORA aims to strengthen regional cooperation and sustainable and inclusive development within the Indian Ocean region, said the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. Also read: Guideline coming for IORA’s engagement, cooperation in Indo-Pacific Established on 7 March 1997, the vision for IORA originated during a visit by late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa to India in 1995, where he said, “The natural urge of the facts of history and geography should broaden itself to include the concept of an Indian Ocean Rim for socio-economic cooperation……” This sentiment and rationale underpinned the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative in March 1995, and the creation of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (then known as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation) two years later, in March 1997. Also read: Bangladesh assumes IORA chairmanship; eyes inclusive development IORA has 23 Member States and 10 Dialogue Partners.