REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PADANG -- Indonesia, under its chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) for the 2015-2017 period, will take serious efforts to strengthen and develop cooperation among countries in the Indian Ocean region.

Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi remarked during the first session of the IORA ministerial meeting at Mercure Hotel here on Friday that in order to achieve its goal, Indonesia had proposed to establish the IORA business innovation center, to provide training to diplomats of IORA member countries, and to organize an international symposium to evaluate steps that have been carried out and to identify things to be done in future.

"Indonesia will collaborate with South Africa, the vice chairman of IORA, in implementing projects and initiatives to strengthen the capacity of institutions in the Indian Ocean region," she remarked.

The minister said her three proposals are aimed to support the program and the framework of cooperation for IORA's six priority areas: maritime security and safety, trade and investment, fishery management, disaster risk management, education, and science and technology.

"As chairman of the IORA, Indonesia is committed to cooperating with all members to implement the programs that we have made for our common goal," she noted.

She further added that Indonesia will host the 3rd Indian Ocean Dialog in 2016 to discuss recommendations on strengthening maritime cooperation.

With regard to blue economic issues, Indonesia will host the 2nd Blue Economic Conference in 2017 to identify maritime potential, particularly in the Indian Ocean region, in the fields of investment, connectivity, and commerce.

"Above all, we must unite to strengthen the regional architecture and to ensure stability and prosperity in the Indian Ocean region," she noted.

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