India hosted the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in New Delhi on June 15-16, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening regional cooperation and advancing discussions on the organisation’s future roadmap for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indian Ocean Region.
In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “India hosted the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) of IORA in New Delhi on 15–16 June 2026 under India’s current Chairship of IORA. The meeting reviewed progress across IORA’s institutional matters and priority areas, and advanced discussions on the next IORA Action Plan (2028–2032), reinforcing cooperation for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Indian Ocean Region.”
The meeting comes as India continues to place significant emphasis on regional maritime cooperation, security, connectivity, sustainable development, and inclusive growth across the Indian Ocean Region.
India Advocates Greater Maritime Cooperation
India’s focus on strengthening cooperation among Indian Ocean countries was also highlighted during the 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue held in New Delhi earlier this year.
On May 7, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal underscored India’s commitment to building an inclusive, resilient, and future-ready maritime sector while addressing the dialogue.
The minister highlighted the increasing participation of women in India’s maritime sector, noting that their representation has risen by approximately 340 per cent since 2020 due to targeted initiatives aimed at promoting inclusion and leadership opportunities.
“Through initiatives like ‘Sagar Mein Samman’, we are advancing dignity, inclusion, and leadership opportunities for women in the maritime sector, which has witnessed a remarkable rise of about 340 per cent since 2020,” Sonowal had said.
He emphasized that the Indian Ocean remains vital to global trade, energy flows, and supply chains, making stronger regional cooperation essential for ensuring economic growth and maritime security.
Focus on Emerging Regional Challenges
The 10th Indian Ocean Dialogue, hosted by India as Chair of IORA for the 2025-27 period, was organised under the theme “Indian Ocean Region in a Transforming World.”
The forum brought together ministers, policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and strategic experts to deliberate on a range of critical issues, including maritime security, the blue economy, disaster risk management, climate change, and women’s empowerment.
India’s leadership of IORA has focused on promoting collaborative solutions to shared regional challenges while advancing sustainable and inclusive development across the Indian Ocean Region.
The discussions held during the 28th CSO meeting are expected to contribute to shaping IORA’s future priorities and the formulation of the organisation’s next Action Plan for 2028–2032, further strengthening cooperation among member states and dialogue partners.
As the current Chair of IORA, India continues to advocate a cooperative and inclusive approach to regional governance, emphasizing maritime security, economic prosperity, and sustainable development as key pillars for the future of the Indian Ocean Region.
(With ANI inputs)
