The United Arab Emirates has assumed the Vice-Presidency of the Indian Ocean Rim Association, IORA, in its coming 2017-2019 Edition and will take over the Association's Presidency for the 2019-2021 Edition.

This came during the17th IORA Ministerial Meeting running here on October 14-18 where the UAE is participating with a delegation led by Dr. Maytha bint Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State.

In her address before to the meeting, Al Shamsi reiterated the UAE's commitment to play an effective role in the association out of its strong belief in the important mission assumed by IORA, specially in maintaining safety of trade in this part of the world. She called for ensuring continued cooperation between the member states to strengthen investment partnerships and achieve the vision and objectives listed in IORA Charter and the endorsed Action Plan for 2017-2021.

The Charter outlines the fundamental principles, objectives, areas of cooperation, and institutional and financial structures and arrangements of the Association. This was considered a historic decision of vital political importance to the Indian Ocean Rim countries as it formally launched the Association. It opens a new era of cooperation among Member States of the Association for their mutual benefit and for the welfare of their peoples. It declares that IORA seeks to build and expand understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation through a consensus-based, evolutionary and non-intrusive approach. In keeping with this spirit, there are no laws, binding contracts or rigid institutional structures.

The minister underlined the UAE's commitment to maintaining freedom of trade across the Indian Ocean region and facing up to all security dangers that pose a threat to international peace and security, including, acts of piracy and other forms of terrorism.

She shed light on the UAE's efforts made in collaboration with the international community to combat piracy, pointing out in this regard that the capital Abu Dhabi will host in the annual anti-piracy conference.

UAE joined IORA in March 1999 and since joining, the country has contributed effectively to the action plans developed by the association, including the organisation of a workshop for capability building in Somalia and Yemen in Abu Dhabi on August 13-14, 2017, in addition to hosting the 4th Indian Ocean Dialogue in Abu Dhabi on October 9-10, 2017.