Meeting to promote trade among Rim countries

The meet will focus on promoting trade and investment among the 18 member countries. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna will chair the meeting, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs P S Raghavan told reporters on Tuesday.

The Association was set up in Mauritius in 1997, with Australia, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the UAE and Yemen as member-countries. It also has five dialogue partners - Egypt, Japan, China, Britain and France and two observers - Indian
Ocean Tourism Organisation (IOTO) and Indian Ocean Research Group (IORG).

Prior to the day-long summit, representatives of Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum, Indian Ocean Rim Working Group on Trade and Investment, Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group and the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) will hold meetings, starting from November 9 to draft reports on the regional co-operation initiatives.

Draft statute

The meeting will also consider and adopt the recommendations of CSO on the agreement and draft statute of the regional centre for science and transfer of technology, located in Tehran, Iran. Besides reviewing the administrative arrangement for the IOR-ARC Special Fund, the members will discuss steps to combat piracy at sea and enhance maritime security in the region.

“The meeting will adopt a Bangalore Declaration and hold brain-storming sessions on enhancing co-operation among the member-countries in tourism, culture, education, skill development, fisheries, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), infrastructure, maritime transport co-operation and combating natural disasters,” Raghavan said.

The meeting will also take up the challenges faced by the member-countries in the region on climate change and the fallout of global warming, due to excess emission of greenhouse gases, he added.