Indian Ocean Rim Association - IORA

The 28th Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) Meeting commenced today at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, New Delhi, India, bringing together Senior Government Officials from 23 Member States.

During the Opening Session, Mr Vishwesh Negi Joint Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs of India, representing IORA Chair, India; Ms Aruni Ranaraja, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism, representing Sri Lanka- Past Chair; and the IORA Secretary-General, H.E. Sanjiv Ranjan delivered their remarks.

Over the next two days, the delegates will deliberate on various issues of institutional matters and the progress across IORA's Priority Areas, and the way forward on strengthening regional cooperation in IOR.



Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India

The Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region Workshop was held in Cape Town, South Africa, from 1–5 June 2026, bringing together delegates from Member States and Regional and International Organizations.

As part of the programme, participants visited the Disaster Risk Management Centre in Goodwood, Cape Town. The visit provided a valuable opportunity to gain first-hand insights into South Africa’s integrated approach to disaster risk management and emergency coordination. Participants explored mechanisms that enhance collaboration among emergency services and key stakeholders, ensuring effective preparedness, response, relief, recovery, and rehabilitation efforts.

The exchange of experiences and good practices further highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, institutional coordination, and resilience-building in addressing the growing complexity of natural and human-induced disasters across the Indian Ocean region.

AFD - Agence Française de Développement
Expertise France

The Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India will host the 28th Meeting of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) of the Indian Ocean Rim Association on 15 & 16 June 2026 in New Delhi.

The meeting will bring together senior government officials from IORA Member States to review progress, discuss regional priorities, and advance cooperation across the Indian Ocean region under the theme of "Innovation, Openness, Resilience & Adaptability".

Read more: https://www.iora.int/india-will-host-28th-meeting-iora-committee-senior-officials

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The Fifth Meeting of the Working Group on the Blue Economy (WGBE) was convened virtually on 12 May 2026 under the leadership of Indonesia as Chair of the WGBE and India as the Coordinating Country for the Blue Economy.

The meeting brought together representatives from 11 Member States and 1 Dialogue Partner to review progress on the implementation of the WGBE Work Plan and exchange updates on initiatives, projects, and activities across the region.

On 3 June 2026, a delegation from the National Defence College, India, comprising senior officials from the Indian Civil Services, Defence forces, and foreign countries, called on H.E. Sanjiv Ranjan, Secretary-General of . The delegation is on 5-day study tour to Mauritius.

The visit of the delegation provided an opportunity to have an overview of the functioning of IORA in across Priority Areas and Cross-Cutting Issues in the .

The Indian Ocean Rim Association is currently convening a "Workshop on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region" from 1–5 June 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Bringing together representatives from IORA Member States and regional/international organizations, the workshop serves as a platform for Strengthening Regional Cooperation: Enhancing Interoperability and Knowledge Sharing on disaster risk management.



| Expertise France | AFD - Agence Française de Développement | Department of International Relations and Cooperation, SA

On 20 May 2026, IORA, in collaboration with GIZ, hosted the third webinar of its Online Workshop Series on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). The session, “EPR Best Practices Showroom,” provided a platform for comparative learning, drawing insights from India, Indonesia, the Philippines, Tunisia, and European Union.

Participants explored key elements that contribute to effective EPR systems, including monitoring and reporting mechanisms, digital traceability platforms, and regulatory enforcement approaches, while examining lessons learned from both successes and challenges.

📅 Looking ahead, the fourth and final webinar will take place on 3 June 2026, focusing on the practical integration of EPR with municipal solid waste management.

The 5th Meeting of the IORA Core Group on Fisheries Management (CGFM) was convened virtually on 13 May 2026 by the Sultanate of Oman, as Chair of the CGFM, together with the IORA Secretariat.

The Meeting brought together representatives from nine IORA Member States and three Dialogue Partners to review progress under the CGFM Work Plan, discuss ongoing and upcoming fisheries-related initiatives, and strengthen regional cooperation in sustainable fisheries management.

Discussions also highlighted the implementation of the IORA Principle Guidelines on Combatting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, as well as the importance of continued engagement by Member States and Dialogue Partners in supporting the CGFM Work Plan.