Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono: Indian Ocean Is Very Important For Future Generation

Foreign Minister Sugiono attended the virtual IORA meeting. (Source: Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

JAKARTA - Indonesian Foreign Minister Sugiono said the Indian Ocean, which plays a strategic role in connecting the three continents, is very important for future generations apart from now on.

This was said by Foreign Minister Sugiono at the 24th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers Meeting which was held virtually.

"Indies traders are very important, not only for our current region, but also for future generations," said the Indonesian Foreign Minister in a virtual meeting, Wednesday, May 21.

Foreign Minister Sugiono emphasized that the Indian Ocean has a strategic role that connects more than 2.5 billion people on three continents, becoming the main route for global trade, as well as storing marine biodiversity that supports the lives of millions of coastal communities.

However, the region also faces growing real challenges, such as climate change, sea level rise, marine pollution and illegal fishing practices.

The Indonesian Foreign Minister emphasized that this challenge requires close cooperation and a shared commitment to sustainability.

Indonesia, he said, remains fully committed to advancing the IORA mission through concrete, inclusive and future-oriented cooperation.

This meeting succeeded in adopting a number of important documents, including the IORA Principle Guidelines on Combating IUU Fishing which is a joint initiative between Indonesia and France. This document was compiled collectively by IORA member countries through a series of Workshops since 2023.

Through Colombo Communiqué, the ministers appreciated the completion of the guidance preparation process, welcomed IORA's real commitment to fighting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing), and in encouraging sustainable marine fisheries management.

It is known, IORA is the only regional cooperation forum that covers the entire Indian Ocean area. Founded on March 7, 1997, IORA now consists of 23 countries and has 12 speech partners.

The focus of IORA's cooperation includes maritime safety and security, trade and investment facilitation, fisheries management, disaster management, tourism and cultural exchange, as well as academic, scientific and technology cooperation.

In addition, IORA also has two cross-sectoral issues, namely the blue economy and women's empowerment.

Indonesia itself continues to play an active role in IORA. In the 2015'2017 Indonesian chairmanship period, the IORA held a High-Level Meeting for the first time and produced a Jakarta Concord document.

Currently, Indonesia serves as Chair of the Working Group on the Blue Economy (WGBE) for the period 2023-2025.