Great Voyage History Expo Enlivens IORA Summit

Jakarta, IORA – The IORA (Indian Ocean Rim Association) Leaders' Summit 2017 is liven up by an exhibition of photographic reproduction of artifacts, classic maps, and art works, and photographs of tourism objects. “This exhibition reised the theme 'The Great Voyage Indian Ocean' which provides understanding to visitors about the history of the archipelago where the great voyage across the Indian Ocean took place for hundreds of years,” said Tourism Minister Arief Yahya in his official press conference, Sunday (3/5) The minister explained that the great voyage was depicted through the replica of the Samudera Raksa Borobudur Ship which was used by sailors as a vessel to voyage from Java to Madagascar and Africa in the 4th – 9th century AD. In addition, the exhibition also featured histories of religious trip (Hindu, Buddha, Islam) which left the trail of civilization. The exhibition also described the silk road trips made by Ibn Battuta, Marco Polo, and Cheng Ho who opened a new civilization in the international trade, in addition to the spice road and exploration of the new world by the Europeans (Portuguese, Spaniards, Briton, and Dutchmen). Minister Arif also explained, to depict the modern historical voyage, the exhibition also served information of the great tour to the Indian Ocean in the archipelago, such as Lake Toba (North Sumatra), Tanjung Lesung beach (Banten), Borobudur temple (Central Java), Mandalika beach (West Nusa Tenggara), Komodo Island -Labuan Bajo (East Nusa Tenggara), and other tourist destinations. The exhibition will take place during the summit on March 5-7, 2017, as a side event of the Leaders' Summit. The exhibition took a 18 m2 booth designed attractively to attract delegates from member states. The history of IORA started from March 5, 1995 when the South African Prime Minister Nelson Mandela paid a visit to India, initiating the establishment of Indian Ocean Rim Initiative. Two years later, the first summit was held in Mauritius on March 5-7, 1997, parallel with the formation of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) In 2012, IOR ARC was changed to Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) which was based in Mauritania. At the moment, IORA has 21 members including South Africa, Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, and Yemen, as well as seven dialogue partner countries of China, France, Japan, United States of America, Egypt, Germany, and United Kingdom. (Translator: LT)