The 24th Council of Ministers (COM) Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) concluded on 21 May 2025, under the Chairmanship of Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism of Sri Lanka.^[1] Held virtually, the meeting reaffirmed IORA's growing significance as a collaborative platform for the Indian Ocean region, which is home to over 2.7 billion people and accounts for nearly 20% of global maritime trade.

The COM was preceded by the 27th Meeting of the Committee of IORA Senior Officials, convened from 19–20 May 2025.^[2] This meeting was chaired by Sri Lanka’s Foreign Secretary Aruni Ranaraja and was held under the theme, “Sustainable Indian Ocean for Future Generations.” The theme reflected the shared commitment of member states to safeguard the ocean’s ecological health while promoting inclusive and sustainable development.

Senior representatives from all 23 IORA Member States and 12 Dialogue Partners, including Australia, Japan, the United States, and the newly admitted European Union, participated in the high-level deliberations. The EU which had signed the Letter of Acceptance in 2024,^[3] and believes that becoming a Dialogue Partner to IORA is of key political importance at a time when the EU is taking on a key role in the region, fully in line with its Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific participated for the first time with EU Commissioner Costas Kadis representing the EU HR/VP Kaja Kallas.

The Secretary General of IORA and other regional stakeholders were also present, making the gathering a significant moment for regional diplomacy and cooperation.

Key discussions centred around IORA’s six established priority areas:

1. Maritime Safety and Security
2. Trade and Investment Facilitation
3. Fisheries Management
4. Disaster Risk Management
5. Academic, Science and Technology Cooperation
6. Tourism and Cultural Exchanges

Additionally, the Blue Economy and Women’s Economic Empowerment remain cross-cutting focus areas, reflecting the Association’s inclusive and forward-looking agenda.

One of the landmark outcomes of the 24th COM was the adoption of the IORA Guidelines on Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. This initiative aims to strengthen regional cooperation in addressing maritime security threats and overfishing, a major concern in the Indian Ocean, which supports the livelihoods of millions. In parallel, the Council adopted IORA’s Climate Agenda, signalling a unified regional commitment to tackling climate change, particularly coastal vulnerability, rising sea levels, and marine biodiversity loss—challenges that disproportionately affect island and littoral states.

The Colombo Communiqué,^[4] a key deliverable of the meeting, highlighted the progress made since the last COM held in October 2023 and mapped the way forward for enhancing institutional mechanisms, deepening partnerships, and consolidating the Indian Ocean’s emerging identity as a cohesive strategic space.

Sri Lanka, which assumed the IORA Chairship in 2023, has actively worked to elevate the organization's visibility and relevance. Under the theme “Strengthening Regional Architecture: Reinforcing Indian Ocean Identity,” Sri Lanka’s leadership has emphasized youth engagement, business integration, and scientific collaboration. Highlights of its tenure include:

1. IORA Day 2024 celebrations, involving over 800 school and university students, to raise awareness about ocean stewardship.
2. The inaugural IORA Business Conclave, held in May 2024 in Colombo in partnership with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, which convened over 200 business leaders from across the region to explore investment and trade opportunities.
3. Ongoing preparations to launch a digital platform for the IORA Centre of Excellence on Ocean Sciences and Environment, in collaboration with the Ocean University of Sri Lanka. This initiative is expected to bolster knowledge sharing and innovation in marine sciences across member states.

India played a prominent role at the 24th COM. The Indian delegation was led by Shri P. Kumaran, Secretary (East), Ministry of External Affairs, underscoring India’s strategic commitment to the Indian Ocean region.^[5] India currently serves as Vice-Chair of IORA and is a member of the IORA Troika, which comprises the past, current, and incoming Chairs. Notably, India is set to assume the Chairship of IORA from 2025 to 2027, positioning it to steer the organization at a crucial juncture for regional cooperation.

In his address, Secretary (East) reaffirmed India’s vision for the Indian Ocean as “a zone of peace, stability, and shared prosperity.” He emphasized the importance of multilateral cooperation, inclusive development, and regional security, aligning with India's long-standing policy of “Security and Growth for All in the Region” (SAGAR). He also drew attention to the need for collective action against terrorism, asserting that terrorism in all its forms—whether state-sponsored or otherwise—must be condemned unequivocally, as it threatens regional stability and economic progress.

India's increasing leadership role within IORA reflects its broader maritime strategy and foreign policy focus. As the world's fifth-largest economy and a pivotal maritime nation, India's proactive engagement aims to enhance connectivity, ensure freedom of navigation, and support capacity-building initiatives among littoral and island states.

India will bring the Mahasagar Initiative to fruition in IORA during its chairship. The MAHASAGAR initiative marks a bold new chapter in India’s maritime vision—one that extends far beyond the foundational principles of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region). While SAGAR emphasized maritime security and regional cooperation, MAHASAGAR expands this framework to embrace the complex economic, strategic, and geopolitical dimensions shaping the Indian Ocean and wider Indo-Pacific region.^[6]