Media Statement

9 October 2023

Minister Pandor visits Sri Lanka for the Meeting of IORA Council of Ministers

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, will take part in the 23rd Council of Ministers (COM) Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), which will be held in Colombo, Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, on 11 October 2023 under the theme: “Strengthening Regional Architecture: Reinforcing Indian Ocean Identity”.

It is expected that the COM Meeting will take stock of the progress that the Association has made since the last meeting in Bangladesh, and to discuss future initiatives.

Sri Lanka will assume the role of Chair of IORA, taking over from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the current Chair. Sri Lanka will serve as Chair for a period of two years (2023-2025), while India will become the Vice-Chair.

IORA is an economic cooperative community of littoral and island States whose shores are washed by the Indian Ocean. It is a Charter-based regional multilateral organisation that is collegial in nature.

IORA seeks to build and expand understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation through a consensus-based, evolutionary and non-intrusive approach.

Cooperation among IORA Member States is based on the principles of sovereign equality, territorial integrity, and political independence, non-interference in internal affairs, peaceful coexistence, and mutual benefit.

South Africa views IORA as an important platform for the articulation of our Foreign Policy, which upholds the importance of multilateralism and global collaboration in resolving the intricate challenges facing the world.

Enquires: Mr Clayson Monyela, Spokesperson for DIRCO, 082 884 5974

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

OR Tambo Building

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