JAKARTA (TheInsiderStories) - Members of Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) at IORA Summit in Jakarta have agreed on action plans to implement the Jakarta Concord, which contains technical guidelines on improving cooperation between the member countries.
Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the IORA Summit has made some agreemetns including the Jakarta Concord document as well as IORA Action Plans to implement the Jakarta Concord as well as IORA Declaration to prevent and tackle terrorism and extremism.
“Jakarta Concord contains guidelines which add and strengthen the IORA cooperation. In addition to adding six new issues, Jakarta Concord also raises new important issues to forge future cooperation, including blue economy, empowerment of women and promoting democracy,” Foreign Minister Marsudi said at the press conference in late Monday (March 6).
The action plans, he said, contain detailed and measurable steps, where members of IORA will implement their commitment as stated in the Jakarta Concord through an establishment of four working groups, consisting of maritime security, tourism, culture, blue economy and empowerment of women.
As maritime country, said Retno, Indonesia plays an important role in the Indian Ocean. Since 2015, Indonesia has strenthened security cooperation and assured stability by way of developing maritime infrastructure, improved disaster management and improve dialogue in the region.
Minister Retno was accompanies by South Africa Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana Mashabane and Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop.
The IORA Summit aims to bolster commitment of IORA countries in creating security and stability in the Indian Ocean region for the welfare of all.
This year’s IORA Summit carries a theme: “Strengthening Maritime Cooperation for a Peaceful, Stable, and Prosperous Indian Ocean”. This is the first Summit of IORA Head of States since the association was established 20 years ago. The Summit was attended by 21 country members of IORA, 7 IORA partners and international organizations.
President Joko Widodo said at the opening ceremony that women plays an important in an improvement of the world’s economy. “Experience around the world has proven that it is easy to boost the economy by empowering the women,” he said.
The President was accompanied by VP Jusuf Kalla at the opening ceremony.
The head of states who are attending the IORA 2017 Summit are South African President Jacob Zuma and first lady Bongi Ngema Zuma, President of Sri Lanka Maithripala Sirisena, president of Mozambique Filipe Nyusi, PM of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, Malaysian PM Najib Razak and first lady Rosmah Mansor and Australian PM Malcom Trunbull.
President Joko Widodo during a dinner last night said IORA offers business opportunities that can be tapped by member countries. This indicated by half of the world containers are passing the Indian Ociean and two-thirds of energy tankers are passing the Indian Ocean every year. In addition, 2.7 billions of people are living in the Indian Ocean.
Therefore, the President said, the Indian Ocian is the future of the world economy. “For this reason, Indonesia is strenthening the maritime axis.”
The government’s duty is to develop infrastructure, including telecommunication infrastructure, such as fiber optic to transmit data more efficient and dismantle bureaucratic red tapes that could hamper business activities as well as eliminating corrupted practices.
Investment on the rise
The Head of Indonesia’s National Investment Coordinating Board (BKPM) Thomas Trikasih Lembong said in a statement that investment from IORA nations has increased by an average of 13.4% per year over the last five years. This indicates an improvement of cooperation within IORA nations. The five countries that become top investors in Indonesia from IORA nations are Singapore, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia and Mauritius.
Total foreign direct investment from IORA countries in 2016 reached US$11.6 billion, increased from US$9.5 billion in 2015, US$9.2 billion in 2014, US$6.6 billion in 2013 and US$7.5 billion in 2012.
Indonesia is the host of IORA Summit 2017 which is held on March 5-7. Indonesia was the chair of IORA for 2015-2017 period. (*)