SL PARTICIPATES AT INDIAN OCEAN RIM ASSOCIATION

Main issue to be discussed ‘Maritime safety’ Ssouth ri Lanka is to represent the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) being held in Durban,

Africa right now with the aim of boosting her international trade, investment, tourism and diplomatic relations with 32 member countries in Asia, Eastern Africa and Oceania, Foreign Affairs Minister Tilak Marapana PC, said prior to his departure.

Minister Marapana added that the potential for new frontiers in trade, investment and tourism are vast despite the fact that Sri Lanka has not recognized fully the true potential of dealing and interacting with member countries of the IORA.

“The main congress of IORA was inaugurated on the 14th of this month and the 17th Council of Ministers (COM) was held on Wednesday 18th October. Ministers of 32 member countries are expected to discuss Maritime Safety and Security which is a key area for IORA because a safe and secure Indian Ocean is vital in order to bolster the movement of goods and people amongst our Member States,” Minister Marapana stressed.

The Ministers are also scheduled to exchange views on trade and investment among member countries, an area that

directly impacts upon job creation, poverty alleviation and economic development and contributes to the objective of promoting sustainable and balanced economic growth in the region, Minister Marapana told Daily Mirror.

Indian Ocean coastal states share a keen interest in the management and conservation of the region’s rich

fish resources. The development of the Blue Economy holds immense promise for the Indian Ocean region. The Indian Ocean is the world’s pre-eminent seaway for trade and commerce, he stressed.

Disaster Risk Management is an area of increasing interest to IORA Member States, which seek to address the threats

The main congress of IORA was inaugurated on the 14th of this month and the 17th Council of Ministers (COM) was held on Wednesday 18th October. Ministers of 32 member countries are expected to discuss Maritime Safety and Security

posed by natural disasters. The contributions of science, technology and the academia have the potential to enhance IORA’S knowledge and capabilities in a number of important fields. The tourism sector has tremendous potential in the Indian Ocean region as well.

“At the Council of Ministers meeting in Perth, Australia, on 1 November 2013, the empowerment of women and girls in the region was identified as an important

cross-cutting issue as women have been important contributors to the economic and social development of the countries in the region. We hope to further strengthen this commitment at Durban,” Minister Marapana emphasized.

Minister Marapana left for Durban, South Africa on Tuesday night to represent Sri Lanka at the IORA.