IORA Annual Report 2026

IORA ANNUAL REPORT 2026

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 CONTENTS IORA / 2026 003 01 Introduction 00 Message from the Secretary-General / Executive Summary / Member States / Dialogue Partners 02 Milestones 00 IORA milestones / 1995–2015 03 Institutional Mechanism 00 IORA Chair / Council of Ministers / Committee of Senior Officials / … 04 Institutional Arrangements and Broadening Engagement 00 Action Plan and Special Fund review / Courtesy calls and institutional engagement 05 IORA’s Priority and Cross-Cutting Areas 00 Activities under Priority Areas and Cross-Cutting Issues / Maritime Safety and Security / Trade and Investment Facilitation / … 06 IORA Special Fund 00 Special Fund overview / Project portfolio

CHAPTER 01 INTRODUCTION IORA ANNUAL REPORT 2026

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 INTRODUCTION IORA / 2026 006 The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is an intergovernmental organisation established on 7 March 1997 to advance regional cooperation and mutually beneficial partnerships across the Indian Ocean region. The Association’s origins can be traced to the vision articulated by the late President Nelson Mandela of South Africa during his visit to India in 1995: “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 co-operation and other peaceful endeavours.” This vision underpinned the Indian Ocean Rim Initiative, launched in March 1995, and led to the establishment of IORA two years later. The IORA Charter serves as the Association’s founding document, setting out the guiding principles for economic cooperation, mutual understanding and multilateral engagement among its Member States. Its approach is consensus-based, evolutionary and non-intrusive, reflecting a shared commitment to mutually beneficial cooperation. Guided by these principles, IORA promotes regional cooperation across six Priority Areas and two Cross-cutting Issues, supporting the development of a peaceful, stable and prosperous Indian Ocean region.

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY- GENERAL IORA / 2026 007

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IORA / 2026 008

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 MEMBER STATES IORA / 2026 009 Australia Bangladesh Comoros France/La Réunion India Indonesia Iran Kenya Madagascar Malaysia Maldives Mauritius Mozambique Oman Seychelles Singapore Somalia South Africa Sri Lanka Tanzania Thailand United Arab Emirates Yemen (Joined IORA in 1997) (Joined IORA in 1999) (Joined IORA in 2012) (Joined IORA in 2020) (Joined IORA in 1997) (Joined IORA in 1997) (Joined IORA in 1999) (Joined IORA in 1997) (Joined IORA in 1997) (Joined IORA in 1997) (Joined IORA in 2018) (Joined IORA in 1997) (Joined IORA in 1997) (Joined IORA in 1997) (Joined IORA in 2011) (Joined IORA in 1997) (Joined IORA in 2014) (Joined IORA in 1997) (Joined IORA in 1997) (Joined IORA in 1997) (Joined IORA in 1999) (Joined IORA in 1999) (Joined IORA in 1997)

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 DIALOGUE PARTNERS IORA / 2026 010 People’s Republic of China (Joined IORA in 2000) Arab Republic of Egypt (Joined IORA in 1999) European Union (Joined IORA in 2024) Republic of Germany (Joined IORA in 2015) Republic of Italy (Joined IORA in 2019) Japan (Joined IORA in 1999) Republic of Korea (Joined IORA in 2018) Russian Federation (Joined IORA in 2021) Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (Joined IORA in 2023) Republic of Türkiye (Joined IORA in 2018) United Kingdom (Joined IORA in 2000) United States of America (Joined IORA in 2012)

CHAPTER 02 MILESTONES IORA ANNUAL REPORT 2026

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 IORA MILESTONES / 1995–2007 IORA / 2026 012 ONE MILESTONE PER YEAR 1995 IORA’s founding vision emerged during President Nelson Mandela’s visit to India. 1996 The Working Group reviewed the draft IORI Charter and Work Programme in Mauritius. 1997 The first Council of Ministers Meeting in Mauritius formally launched IORA and adopted its Charter. 1998 A Pilot Coordination Mechanism was established in Mauritius. 1999 Bangladesh, Iran, Seychelles, Thailand and the UAE joined, bringing membership to 19. 2000 The Headquarters Agreement with Mauritius established the Secretariat’s diplomatic status. 2001 The first High-Level Task Force was constituted and met in Colombo. 2002 The High-Level Task Force met in Tehran to consider IORA’s future direction and institutional structure. 2003 The Council of Ministers decided to meet annually rather than biennially. 2004 The IORA Special Fund was created. 2006 A memorandum establishing the IORA Special Fund was adopted. 2007 IORA identified six medium- to long-term priority areas.

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 IORA MILESTONES / 2008–2015 IORA / 2026 013 ONE MILESTONE PER YEAR 2008 An MOU established the IORA Regional Centre for Science and Technology Transfer in Iran. 2010 The Indian Ocean Research Group was admitted as an Observer. 2011 IORA adopted six Priority Areas for regional cooperation. 2012 The Union of Comoros became a Member State. 2013 IOR-ARC was renamed the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). 2014 Blue Economy was adopted as a cross-cutting issue. 2015 The first Ministerial Blue Economy Conference in Mauritius adopted the Mauritius Declaration on the Blue Economy.

CHAPTER 03 INSTITUTIONAL MECHANISM IORA ANNUAL REPORT 2026

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 IORA CHAIR IORA / 2026 015 The Council of Ministers, on voluntary offer by Member States, elects a Chair of the Association for a period of two years. The role of the Chair is to arrange, coordinate, host and preside over the meetings of the Council of Ministers, the meetings of the Committee of Senior Officials, the Sub Committee of Finance and any other meetings as mandated by the Council of Ministers. The IORA Chair approves the circulation of the draft agenda and draft reports of the Council Meetings. The Republic of India is the Chair of IORA for the period of two years (2025-2027).

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 LEADERSHIP OF IORA IORA / 2026 016 IORA CHAIR YEAR Republic of Mauritius 1997-1998 Republic of Mozambique 1999-2000 Sultanate of Oman 2001-2002 Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 2003-2005 Islamic Republic of Iran 2006-2008 Republic of Yemen 2009-2010 Republic of India 2011-2012 Commonwealth of Australia 2013-2014 Republic of Indonesia 2015-2017 Republic of South Africa 2017-2019 United Arab Emirates 2019-2021 People’s Republic of Bangladesh 2021-2023 Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka 2023-2025 Republic of India (current Chair) 2025-2027

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 COUNCIL OF MINISTERS IORA / 2026 017 The Council of Ministers (COM) is IORA’s highest decision-making body and comprises the ministers of foreign affairs of all member states. It meets annually, or more frequently as mutually agreed. The COM formulates policies, reviews progress in cooperation among member states, and decides on new areas of collaboration. It also establishes functional bodies and specialized agencies as needed and decides on other matters of common interest to the Association. 25th COM Meetings, New Delhi, November 2026

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 COMMITTEE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS IORA / 2026 018 The Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) is IORA’s second-highest decision-making body and operates under the direction of the Council of Ministers (COM). It comprises senior government officials from member states and meets twice a year, or more frequently as mutually agreed. The CSO considers reports and recommendations from institutional mechanisms established by the COM, reviews the implementation of COM decisions, and establishes priorities for economic cooperation among member states. It also develops, monitors, and coordinates IORA work programs and mobilizes resources to finance them. The CSO submits periodic reports to the COM and refers policy matters to it for decisions as needed.

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 INDIA HOSTED THE 28TH COMMITTEE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS MEETING IORA / 2026 019 Photo Caption: The Ministry of External Affairs, Republic of India hosted the 28th Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) on 15–16 June 2026 at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi, India. The Meeting was held under the theme “Innovation, Openness, Resilience & Adaptability” and was chaired by Mr Vishwesh Negi, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs of India. The meeting brought together Senior Government Officials from IORA Member States to review progress made under the Association’s various initiatives, discuss regional priorities, and advance cooperation across the Indian Ocean region. A Special Session featuring an interactive exchange between IORA Member States and Dialogue Partners was also held, providing a valuable platform to explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation across the Indian Ocean region. During the Opening Session, the IORA Chair represented by Mr Vishwesh Negi recalled Nelson Mandela’s 1995 visit in New Delhi that inspired IORA’s creation and affirmed IORA’s role in promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity. The Chair highlighted that this Chairship represents a responsibility to further strengthen IORA. The representative of the Past Chair, Ms Aruni Ranaraja, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka, addressed the CSO Meeting and reflected on the achievements of Sri Lanka’s Chairmanship from 2023 to 2025. The Secretary-General of IORA, Mr Sanjiv Ranjan, presented his report to the CSO Meeting, highlighting the forthcoming 30th anniversary of the Association as an important milestone to reflect on IORA’s achievements and chart a future course for strengthened regional cooperation. As the second-highest decision-making body of IORA, the Committee of Senior Officials serves as the organisation’s principal coordinating mechanism. Comprising senior government representatives from Member States, the CSO plays a vital role in reviewing key agenda items, formulating recommendations, and submitting policy matters to the Council of Ministers for final consideration and approval.

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 29TH COMMITTEE OF SENIOR OFFICIALS IORA / 2026 020

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 SUB-COMMITTEE ON FINANCE IORA / 2026 021 The Sub-Committee on Finance (SCF) is a subsidiary body of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) and oversees IORA’s financial management. It meets at least twice a year. The SCF reviews the Secretariat’s proposed annual budget and quarterly financial reports and advises the CSO on financial management matters. It also reviews the annual report and the audited annual financial statements of the Secretariat and the IORA Special Fund before their presentation to the CSO. The SCF assesses and monitors risks to IORA, recommends appropriate risk management strategies, and reports on its activities and recommendations at each CSO meeting. SUB-COMMITTEE ON FINANCE: SCF MEETING ENDORSES IORA SECRETARIAT BUDGET 2026 Photo caption: The Sub-Committee on Finance (SCF) of the IORA Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) met virtually on 24 February and 30 September 2026 under the Chairship of the Republic of India, with the participation of representatives of IORA Member States and the IORA Secretariat. Both meetings addressed financial matters and the strengthening of the Secretariat’s institutional capacity. At its February meeting, the SCF endorsed the IORA Secretariat’s budget for 2026. During the September meeting, Member States reiterated the importance of strengthening the Secretariat’s financial resources to enable it to fulfil the mandate entrusted to it under the IORA Charter.

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 TROIKA IORA / 2026 024 The Troika is an institutional mechanism comprising IORA’s Chair, Vice-chair, and Previous Chair. It keeps member states informed of important matters concerning the Association, including progress updates, the establishment of new mechanisms, policy guidance for IORA institutions, and matters relating to the secretary-general. The members of the Troika constitute the quorum of the Sub-Committee on Finance.

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026 IORA SECRETARIAT IORA / 2026 025 The IORA Secretariat manages, coordinates, supports, and monitors the implementation of policy decisions and work programs adopted by the Council of Ministers. It also oversees the prioritization of projects approved by the Council. The Secretariat organizes IORA meetings, promotes the Association, collects and shares information, and maintains an archive, depository, and registry of IORA documents. It also helps secure resources for the Association’s activities. The Secretariat is headquartered in Ebene, Republic of Mauritius. Structure of the IORA Secretariat The IORA Secretariat is led by the Secretary- General, supported by six Directorates responsible for the Association’s substantive and operational work. These comprise Corporate Services; Maritime Safety and Security and Disaster Risk Management; Trade and Investment Facilitation; Academic, Science and Technology Cooperation, Tourism and Cultural Exchanges, and Women’s Economic Empowerment; Fisheries Management and Blue Economy; and Institutional Arrangements and Broadening Engagement. This structure provides clear reporting lines and supports coordination across IORA’s priority and cross-cutting areas. The Directorates are supported by programme officers at different levels, who assist in coordinating activities, implementing programmes and engaging with Member States and partners. Together, these functions support the delivery of IORA’s mandate and its efforts to strengthen regional cooperation.

INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION / ANNUAL REPORT 2026STRUCTURE OF THE IORA SECRETARIATIORA / 2026 026

CHAPTER 04 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS AND BROADENING ENGAGEMENT IORA ANNUAL REPORT 2026