IRNA - The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Leaders Summit started working with the attendance of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Tuesday in Indonesia.


Leaders are scheduled to discuss general issues and to sign documents in the Summit.

Zarif is participating in the event on behalf of President Hassan Rouhani.

Indonesian President and the current Head of IORA Joko Widodo, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and South African President Jacob Zuma have taken part in the the event.

The Summit is being held on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of IORA establishment.


Leaders of the 21 IORA member states and 7 dialogue partners as well as other special guests have participated in the Summit.

From among 21 IORA member states, 4 countries and 6 partners from 7 dialog partners are also members of G20.

Iran stresses that lifting sanctions imposed on Iran by the West has paved the way for boosting economic cooperation among member states especially in the Persian Gulf which is adjacent to Indian Ocean.

Committee of Senior Officials Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) kicked off on Monday in Jakarta, Indonesia, with participation of Iranian representatives.

Addressing the IORA Council of Ministers' Meeting in Jakarta Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi urged the IORA member states to strengthen cooperation within the framework of the Association�s six priority areas consisting of Maritime Safety and Security, Trade Investment Facilitation, Fisheries Management, Disaster Risk Management, Academic, Science and Technology, and Tourism and Cultural Exchanges.

IORA members consists of Iran, South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, United Arabic Emirates, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand and Yemen.

US, England, Japan, Germany, Egypt, France and China are the 7 dialog partners of IORA.