State Minister Khaleel attends 22nd IORA Meeting of the Council of Ministers

Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel has participated in the 22nd Meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA).

The state minister participated in the 22nd IORA Meeting of the Council of Ministers held in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on Thursday.

Hosted by the current Chair of IORA, the meeting was held under the theme “Harnessing the opportunities of the Indian Ocean sustainably for inclusive development”.

The meeting brought together Ministers from the 23 Member States of IORA in which they reiterated their commitment to “supporting IORA to play a significant role in promoting sustainable and inclusive development in the Indian Ocean through constructive dialogue and concerted efforts as well as to address challenges and key issues in collaboration with Dialogue Partners”.

The end of the meeting saw the adaptation of the Dhaka Communiqué.

Giving his statement at the meeting, State Minister Khaleel shed light on the risks and exposure that Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face due to the effects of climate change and urged Member States to share experiences and technologies, pass on knowledge and to work together to protect the environment of the Indian Ocean.

He went on to emphasize on the firm commitment of the Maldives to the common principles enshrined in the IORA Charter and urged Member States to revive the true spirit of regional cooperation.

High Commissioner of Maldives to Bangladesh Shiruzimath Sameer, Director General at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mariyam Reesha and Deputy Desk Officer at the ministry Ali Firushan accompanied State Minister Khaleel at the event.

A leading inter-governmental organization formed in 1997, IORA aims to enhance regional and socio-economic cooperation and development among Indian Ocean Region countries.

Maldives officially joined on 8 November 2019 as the 22nd Member State of IORA.

The 22nd Council of Ministers meeting was preceded by the 24th Committee of Senior Officials meeting that took place in Dhaka from November 22 – 23 this year.