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| Wednesday, 11 August 2004 |
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Sri Lanka will host the Fifth Council of Ministers' Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) and related Meetings from 21st-27th August 2004. The Council of Ministers' Meeting will be chaired by the Lakshman Kadirgamar, Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Indian Ocean Rim defines a distinctive area in international relations consisting of coastal states bordering the Indian Ocean. It is a region of much diversity, whether in culture, race, religion, economic development or strategic interests. The countries vary in the size of their population, economies, trade, technological development and in the composition of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A number of sub regions are evident in the composition of the IOR-ARC. For example, Southern and Eastern Africa, the Horn of Africa and the Red Sea, South Asia, South East Asia and Australasia. It also includes a number of regional organizations such as the Association for South East Asian Nation (ASEAN), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the South African Development Economic Community (SADEC). For many centuries, the countries, the economies and the people of the Indian Ocean have been bound together in an informal cooperative economic community. Traders, seafarers, fishermen and pilgrims traversed the Indian Ocean and its numerous ports, enabling a vibrant trading network to emerge. The IOR-ARC also serves as bridgehead between Africa, Asia and Australasia. The Indian Ocean is the world's third largest ocean. It carries half of the world's container ships, one third of the bulk cargo traffic and two thirds of the world's oil shipments. It is a lifeline of international trade and economy. The region is woven together by trade routes and commands control of the major sea lanes. The Indian Ocean constitutes between a quarter and a third of the world's population which is close to two billion, which makes it a huge market. It is rich in strategic and precious minerals, metals and other natural resources such as marine resources and raw material and energy for industries. Moreover, it has abundant agricultural wealth in terms of the variety and mass of arable land and has significant human resources and technological capabilities. Many countries of the Rim are becoming globally competitive and are developing new capacities which could be jointly harnessed through regional cooperation efforts. The IOR-ARC was launched in Mauritius on 6th - 7th March 1997. Members of the Association are Australia, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. China, Egypt, France, Japan and the United Kingdom are Dialogue Partners. The Indian Ocean Tourism Organisation (IOTO) has observer status. The IOR-ARC was formally launched at the First Ministerial Meeting in Mauritius in March 1997. The Second Ministerial Meeting was held in Maputo, Mozambique in March 1999. The Third Ministerial Meeting was held in Muscat, Oman in April 2001. The Fourth Ministerial Meeting was held in Colombo in October 2003. The objectives of the IOR-ARC are: to promote sustainable growth and balanced development of the region and Member States, to focus on those areas of economic cooperation which provide maximum opportunities to develop shared interests and reap mutual benefits and, to promote liberalization, remove impediments and lower barriers towards a freer and enhanced flow of goods, services, investment and technology within the Indian Ocean Rim. The IOR-ARC is based on the principle of open regionalism, which is a flexible arrangement. Decisions are made by consensus and compliance remains without any rigid institutional structure to specify any rules and regulations. Membership is open to all sovereign states of the Indian Ocean Rim willing to subscribe to the principles and objectives of the Charter. IOR-ARC combines officials, business persons and academics as an integral part of its functioning in a unique tripartite structure. The Indian Ocean rim Academic Group (IORAG), the Indian Ocean Rim Business Forum (IORBF), and the Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI) report to the Committee of Senior Officials (CS) who in turn report to the Council of Ministers (COM). The highest authority of the Association rests with the COM which formulates policy, reviews progress on cooperation, makes decisions on new areas of cooperation and on the establishment of additional mechanisms and other matters of general interest. The IOR-ARC Coordinating Secretariat which is located in Mauritius coordinates, services and monitors the implementation of policy decisions and work programmes as laid down by the Council of Ministers. The IOR-ARC is now at an important crossroads in this efforts to strengthen regional integration and development. The forthcoming Colombo Meeting will work towards identifying quantifiable targets and measurable outcomes. The Indian Ocean Rim Academic Group (IORAG) will review the following work programmes/projects at the forthcoming Meeting of IORAG on 21st August 2004: i. Trade and Trade-Related Economic Cooperation in the IOR-ARC countries; ii. Study of Systems of Management Education iii. Prospects for Sub-Contracting Network Through Small and Medium Enterprises; iv. Integrated Coastal Zone Management; v. Institutional Mechanism for Promoting Intra-regional Investments and Trade in the IOR-ARC Region in Strategic Sectors; vi. Workshop on WTO issues as well as on the use of Information Technology and E-Commerce and Trade Facilitation; vii. Economics of Tourism in IOR-ARC Countries and viii. Other new Projects. Indian Ocean Business Forum (IORBF): the Progress of the following on going projects under IORBF will be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the IORBF on 22nd August 2004: i. Co-operation in standards and Accreditation, ii. Development, Upgrading and Management of Seaports; maritime transport; Insurance and Re-insurance and setting up of a Shippers' Council; iii. Tourism Promotion and Development Project Strategic Vision for the IORBF; iv. Technology Cooperation in the Indian Ocean Rim; and, v. Consideration of new programmes. Working Group on Trade and Investment (WGTI): The progress of the following Studies and Work Programmes under the WGTI will be discussed at the forthcoming meeting of the WGTI on 23rd August 2004: i. Implementation of recommendation made by Group of Experts on Fisheries, ii. Reports on different compendia, such as Quarantine Requirements for animals and plant products and food inspection requirements, Customs Procedures, Investment Regimes and International and Regional Trade Developments, iii. Preferential Trade Agreement for the IOR-ARC and Progress on intra-trade data investment flows. The schedule for the Meetings will be as follows: IORAG - 21st August 2004, IORBF - 22nd August 2004, WGTI - 23rd August 2004, CSO - 24th and 25th August 2004 and COM - 26th and 27th August 2004. |
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