REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) is optimistic that the Indian Ocean region is entering a golden age and would become the world's key axis.

"In Indonesia, we believe that the Indian Ocean is currently developing into a key axis in the world," Jokowi stated in his opening remarks during the First Summit of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) at the Jakarta Convention Center, here, Tuesday.

The First Summit of IORA coincides with the 20th anniversary of the association. The Atlantic Ocean has dominated the world events for decades. Following rapid progress in several East Asian countries, many believed that it has become the era of the Pacific Ocean for the last three decades.

"However, we believe that at present, the Indian Ocean is flexing (its might), with significant progress of its community, and its economy is playing a significant role in East Asia, the Middle East, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Australia," he stated.

The IORA is unique, as it has both rich and poor communities.

"The IORA region is one having rich traditions," he added.

The 2017 IORA Summit is held under the theme "Strengthening Maritime Cooperation for Peaceful, stable and Prosperous Indian Ocean." IORA itself is a regional organization that houses 21 member countries, all of which border the Indian Ocean. It is based on the open regional principles aimed to strengthen economic cooperation, especially in facilitating investment, promotion, and development in the area.

The region is also home to 2.7 billion citizens, which is 35 percent of the entire world population. The series of IORA meeting in Jakarta on March 5-7 produces four documents to encourage the Indian Ocean to becomes a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region.

The four documents are Jakarta Concord, the IORA Action Plan, the IORA Declaration on Prevention and Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism, as well as the Joint Declaration of IORA Business Community in Building Partnerships for Sustainable and Fair Economic Growth. The documents are expected to be ratified by the heads of state/government during the IORA Summit on March 7, 2017.

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