Implementation Of IORA's Jakarta Concord

JAKARTA, March 9 (Antara) - The first three-day Summit Conference of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) has ended with the signing of the Jakarta Concord. The summit was a strategic and progressive step by leaders of IORA member countries inspiring them to move faster in facing the present and future challenges in the region. All taking part in the summit meeting were committed to promoting cooperation among member countries. President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the Summit Conference constitutes a milestone of renewal of commitments of IORA member countries to intensify the regional cooperation. "All leaders are aware of the challenges confronting them at present. All leaders are more aware of the potentials they have , all leaders are aware of the importance of protecting the Indian Ocean, the ocean that unifies IORA member countries," the president said. The signing of the six point Jakarta Concord at the end of the summit was an expression of commitments of the member countries. The six commitments include cooperation to promote maritime security and safety, promote cooperation in trade and investment, and cooperation in sustainable exploitation of the fishery sector. The member countries also agreed to cooperate in disaster risk management, in academic and scientific development, and in tourism and culture. "There are also calls for cooperation in promoting blue economy , empowerment of women and democracy , good governance, eradication of corruption, and protection of human rights," Jokowi said. He said agreement to create the Indian Ocean as a zone of peace and security is in line with the 1982 UNCLOs (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) as the constitution on oceans. Peace and security in the Indian Ocean is a prerequisite for cooperation in other sectors. The IORA leaders strongly supported the IORA Business meeting held on the sidelines of the summit conference. "Cooperation between business leaders must be strengthened in the future," Jokowi said. South African President Jacob Zuma said the Jakarta Concord is expected to expand cooperation and strengthen the existence of IORA . Zuma also said he welcome the business forum opened during the IORA summit meeting. "South Africa welcomes the business meeting, with a declaration of the business communities of the IORA member countries," he said. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who represented his country as IORA chairman before Indonesia also expressed strong support for IORA commitments as outlined in the Jakarta Concord. The Jakarta Concord is road map for IORA in the future, and reaffirms commitment to create regional peace, stability and welfare, Turnbull said. "President Joko Widodo has shown strong leadership in this region . Strong and persuasive. Indonesia has proved that Islam, democracy and modernization could go together. Indonesia leads with example," he said. Economic Cooperation The government of Indonesia is seeking to promote economic cooperation with other members of IORA such as India, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, and Tanzania. Vice President Jusuf Kalla said after bilateral meetings with leaders of other member countries stressed the importance of stronger bilateral relations and economic cooperation between Indonesia other countries in the region. Leaders of a number of countries like Tanzania, Somalia and India invited the Indonesian government to visit their countries . Meanwhile, Singapore plans to increase its investment in Indonesia. Indonesia is also expected to take part in coping with hunger in other countries like Somalia. Indonesia has long planned to open new markets, especially in Africa, to boost its exports especially after the weak demand in its traditional markets as a result of the global crisis. IORA is a highly potential market but not yet sufficiently exploited. African trade was valued at US$550 billion in 2016, but Indonesia's exports to that region was valued only at US$4.2 billion that year. The market of Middle East was valued at US$975 billion , but Indonesia managed only to export US$5 billion worth of goods to that region that year. IORA is the largest a forum of cooperation in the Indian Ocean rim established in 1997, but over the past 20 years, it had only a ministerial level. The summit meeting in Jakarta lifted its position placing it in the ranks of major regional groupings. Trade between IORA member countries was worth US$777 billion in 2015 or an increase of 300 percent from only US$233 billion in 1994. Around 70 percent of the world trade is routed through the Indian Ocean mainly oil and gas distribution. More than half of container ships and two third of oil tankers pass through the ocean. The Indian Ocean rim houses 2.7 billion or 35 percent of the world population, but it accounts for only 12 percent of the world market, 10 percent of the global GDP and 13 percent of foreign investment. IORA groups 21 countries including Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen. It has seven dialog partners including the United States, Britain, Japan, Germany, Egypt, China and France. Four of the member countries - South Africa, Australia, India, and Indonesia - and six of the dialog partners - the United States, China, Germany, Britain, Japan and France are members of G20. Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said the maritime diplomacy through the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) is aimed at promoting the Indonesian vision of maritime axis. "Leadership as Indonesian legacy over the Indian Ocean is part of the world maritime axis idea brought around by President Jokowi. IORA constitutes a realization of Indonesian maritime diplomacy to back up the country's vision of maritime axis," Retno said here before the summit took place.