IORA Sec-Gen Appreciates Indonesia’s Initiative Organizing IORA Summit

Jakarta, IORA - Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) K.V Bhagirath conveyed his appreciation to RI Government’s initiative to host IORA Summit in Jakarta. "We are pleased that Indonesia had taken the initiative to take a role in the Indian Ocean," said K.V Bhagirath in a press conference after attending IORA Summit’s Senior Official Meeting, at the Jakarta Convention Center on Sunday (5/3). Previously, IORA meetings were only conducted at the ministerial level, Bhagirath explained. It is only after Indonesia hold the chairmanship that IORA hold a leader level meeting. "This meeting is very important for the countries bordering the Indian Ocean,” he said. Furthermore, Bhagirath said, the summit is very important for it will affect the countries bordering the Indian Ocean in terms of economy, education, research, and politics. "Jakarta Concord will bring a change for IORA member states,” he said. The summit is a long-awaited step for nearly 20 years since the establishment of IORA. It takes a couple of IORA’s chairmanship succession until Indonesia finally chaired the summit. "This is a long and successful journey achieved by the President of Indonesia," said Bhagirath. (Tri Antoro/Jul/Translator: SC)