On 14 November 2021 in the afternoon Kurshed Alam, the Secretary of Foreign Ministry Maritime Affairs unit said at a 21st press conference of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) that despite having all the qualifications, Myanmar did not get the membership of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) due to the Rohingya matter.

“Myanmar applied and fulfilled all the conditions to get a position at IORA. But Myanmar was not given membership in the alliance for it (Myanmar) didn’t treat Rohingya responsibly”, Kurshed added.

South Africa opposed the application of Myanmar. Referring to this, the Secretary of the Maritime Affairs unit said, “South Africa said that Myanmar failed to resolve the Rohingya problem. Therefore, Myanmar can not be given membership”.

82 officers, including 12 ministers, will be present in the body. For those who can not travel, there will be a chance to join virtually. Representatives of 23 countries will attend this conference.

The detail of the Meeting is a follows:

The People’s Republic of Bangladesh, as the incoming Chair of IORA, will host the 21^st IORA Council of Ministers’ (COM) Meeting on 17 November 2021 and the 23^rd Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) and its related Meetings from 15 – 16 November 2021, in a hybrid format (in-person & virtual).

The People’s Republic of Bangladesh will assume the position of the IORA Chair in November 2021 during the 21st IORA COM Meeting, being held in a hybrid format in Dhaka. The Chairship of Bangladesh is to run from 2021 – 2023, with the new Vice-Chair, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and the United Arab Emirates now taking the position of the Past-Chair.

The forthcoming Ministers’ meeting will be preceded by the 23^rd CSO Meeting from 15 – 16 November 2021, taking stock of the Associations progress, and to endorse the next IORA’s Action Plan (2022 – 2027).

The meetings’ schedule is as follows: 

• 15 – 16 November 2021 – 23rd IORA Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) Meeting;
• 16 November 2021 – Interactive Dialogue Session between IORA Senior Officials and Dialogue Partners; and
• 17 November 2021 – 21st IORA Council of Ministers (COM) Meeting
• 17 November 2021 – Strategic Dialogue on the Impact of Covid-19 and perspectives of economic recovery in the Indian Ocean Region

For more information about the #IORA COM and CSO, click here.

Media Enquiries: iora.media@iora.int

Follow the conversation #IORA @IORAofficial