MoS Dr Ranian attends 22nd IORA-COM in Dhaka
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, November 24 2022:
Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Education Dr Rajkumar Ranjan Singh visited Dhaka, Bangladesh to participate in the 22nd Council of Ministers' Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA-COM), which was held under the chair-ship of Bangladesh on Thursday.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr Ranjan reaffirmed India's commitment to strengthening IORA, the largest and pre-eminent organisation in the Indian Ocean Region, to promote peace, security and prosperity in the region as well as in the wider Indo-Pacific.
He highlighted India's contributions, as coordinator of the IORA priority areas of Disaster Risk Management (DRM) and Science, Technology & Innovation inter alia, towards building IORA's capacity.
India is also setting up an e-Office at the IORA secretariat to which the minister announced provision of e-subscription by India.
Highlighting the current global challenges to climate, food and energy security, he also called for greater cooperation on initiatives of LiFE - Lifestyle for Environment and International Year of Millet in 2023.The 22nd IORA-COM meeting adopted the 'IORA's Outlook on the Indo-Pacific' (IOIP) which would guide enhancement of IORA s engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.
India led the process of development of the IOIP and adopted Dhaka Communique.
The IORA ministers also endorsed India's candidature for IORA vicechair for the period 2023-25 by consensus and the ministers also had a joint call on the Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
On the side lines of the meeting, Dr Rk Ranjan also had a bilateral meeting with State Minister for Foreign Affairs of Somalia; Ali Mohamed Omar and discussed about various bilateral and multilateral matters.
Prior to the 22nd IORA-COM Meeting, senior official meetings from IORA member states reviewed the entire range of IORA's on going and future work and activities at the 24th IORA Committee of Senior Officials' meeting held on November 22 and 23 .