Media Statement

15 December 2020

Minister Pandor to partake in the 20th IORA Council of Minister’s Meeting

The Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Dr Naledi Pandor, is scheduled to participate in the 20th Meeting of the Council of Ministers (COM) of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) on Thursday, 17 December 2020.

The IORA COM will be preceded by the 22nd Meeting of the IORA Committee of Senior Officials (CSO). South Africa, as the past Chair of IORA for the period 2017 to 2019, remains part of the IORA Troika, together with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as the current IORA Chair, and Bangladesh, as the current Vice-Chair of the Association.

The UAE’s theme for their chairship is: “Promoting a Shared Destiny and Path to Prosperity in the Indian Ocean”. This theme further strengthens the South African position that the Indian Ocean should be characterised as a region of peace, stability and development.

These meetings will be considering, amongst others, the appointment of the next Secretary-General of the Association to succeed Ambassador Nomvuyo Nokwe from South Africa, who served as IORA Secretary-General since February 2018. Ambassador Nokwe’s term of office will come to an end in February 2021.

The Ministers are also expected to approve the “IORA Solidarity and Cooperation Response to COVID-19” and announce the commencement of the Nelson Mandela “Be the Legacy” Internship programme that will take place at the IORA Secretariat in Mauritius from July 2021.

The Ministers will release the “Emirates Communiqué” at the conclusion of their meeting.

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

ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND COOPERATION

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