Malaysia To Participate In 16th IORA COMM In Bali

PUTRAJAYA (Malaysia), Oct 27 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will participate in the 16th Indian Ocean Rim Association Council of Foreign Ministers' Meeting (16th IORA COMM) in Bali, Indonesia on Thursday to discuss the progress and status of the IORA Leaders' Summit outcome documents. Wisma Putra (Malaysia's Foreign Ministry) in a statement Wednesday said Deputy Foreign Minister Reezal Merican Naina Merican, who would lead Malaysia's delegation to the meeting, would deliver the country statement and hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts to discuss issues of mutual concern and interest. "Malaysia's participation in the meeting is an affirmation of its continued commitment and support to IORA, including strengthening the engagement with fellow member states and the dialogue partners of IORA," Wisma Putra said. IORA consists of 21 member states from the Indian Ocean region. Established in 1995, IORA is a platform for Malaysia to engage with all the member states of IORA through regional economic cooperation, especially in the new field of Blue Economy. The statement said the IORA Leaders' Summit documents, namely the IORA Concord and IORA Action Plan to be discussed at the meeting would chart the future of IORA as a regional organisation that focuses on developing a strategic economic region founded on progressive, inclusive and sustainable economic development. It said the meeting would also review the special programmes of IORA that would assist the organisation to address future challenges, consideration of the Committee of Senior Officials' Institutional Recommendations, and the adoption of the Bali Communique and Declaration on Gender Equality and Women's Economic Empowerment. The meeting is expected to finalise the preparations for the IORA Leaders' Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia on March 7 next year to commemorate the 20th anniversary of IORA. --BERNAMA