Natinal Interests To Be Aligned With IORA's Theme: Foreign Minister

NATIONAL INTERESTS TO BE ALIGNED WITH IORA'S THEME: FOREIGN MINISTER Jakarta, Feb 25 (Antara) - The nation's interests should be aligned with the agenda to be carried forward during Indonesia's next chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno L.P. Marsudi stated. "In determining the agenda of IORA, we will consider what would be our main interests and priorities in the next five years, which we can then align with the interests of IORA," she noted here on Wednesday. She made the statement at a national symposium for the preparation of Indonesia's IORA chairmanship organized by the foreign ministry's office. She remarked that the foreign ministry will cooperate with other stakeholders to study the six main priorities outlined in IORA and align them to Indonesia's interests and priorities. The six main priorities of IORA are related to maritime security, fishery culture, energy, disaster risk management, technology, science, tourism, and cultural exchange. "We will try to align IORA's priorities to the nation's priorities such as maritime axis development, which we think match with the priorities of IORA," she emphasized. The minister said that during its IORA chairmanship, Indonesia must garner the benefits and simutaneously contribute to the world. "Every time we hold chairmanship in an organization, certainly, as a middle power country, Indonesia must always contemplate what benefits it would get and be able to contribute. That is what would strengthen Indonesia's role abroad, meaning contributing actively to the region and the world," she remarked. Minister Retno stated that Indonesia must be able to identify areas that could still be optimized in IORA. She noted that we must exhibit courage to step forward to carry out strategic activities. "In view of that, our ideas must also be strategic, for instance, how we can manage the Indian Ocean well for the interests of us all and IORA's feasibility," she pointed out. The IORA, initially known as the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), is an international organization comprising coastal countries bordering the Indian Ocean. IORA is a regional forum that brings together governments, businesses, and academicians from various countries on a single platform in a bid to promote cooperation and closer interaction.