South Africa will assume the role of Chair for Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) in October 2017 taking over from Indonesia. In this regard the Country will host the 17th Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Council of Ministers' Meetings from 14 - 18 October 2017 in Durban under the theme: “IORA – uniting the peoples of Africa, Asia, Australasia, and the Middle East through enhanced co-operation for peace, stability and sustainable development”.
The aim of the Association is to promote trade liberalisation and trade cooperation between the member states with activities focusing on trade facilitation, investment promotion and economic cooperation.
The IORA Council of Ministers meeting will take place on the 18th of October and will be preceded by the following activities:
- 14 October – IORA Academic Groups
- 15 October – IORA Working Groups on Trade and Investment
- 16 October – IORA Senior officials meeting
- 17 October – IORA Interactive Dialogue Partners and IBSA Ministerial Meeting
The current membership of IORA consists 21 states: Australia, Bangladesh, Comoros, India, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mozambique, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore, Somalia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Yemen. IORA is also supported by seven Dialogue Partners: the United States, Japan, France, the United Kingdom (UK), Egypt, China and Germany. IORA has observer status at the United Nations General Assembly, UNCTAD and the African Union.
Draft Media Programme:
09:00 – 09:40
Opening Session (opening remarks – media present)
09:40 – 10:00
Group Photo
Coffee Break
10:00 – 12:30
Council of Ministers Meeting (Member State & Dialogue Partner country statements)
12:30 – 14:00
Working Luncheon with Dialogue Partners
14:00 – 15:00
Closed Session (Member States only)
15:00 – 15:15
Coffee / Tea break
15:15 – 15:30
Closing Session (concluding remarks – media present)
15:30 – 16:00
Press Conference
The media are also invited to the 8th India, Brazil, South Africa (IBSA) Trilateral Ministerial Commission (ITMC) meeting scheduled for 17 October 2017 at Southern Sun Elangeni from 10h00 – 12h00. The meeting will be chaired by Minister Nkoana-Mashabane and attended by her counterparts from Brazil, Minister Aloysio Nunes Ferreira, and India, Dr V.K. Singh.
Media accreditation
Live accreditation will take place from 12 – 17 October 2017. The accreditation centre opens at 08h00 daily. The venue for accreditation is Southern Sun Elangeni, 63 Snell Parade, North Beach, Durban. Members of the media are expected to present their press cards and ID/passports at the accreditation venue. Only bona fide journalists, broadcasters, photographers, film and television camera crews and technicians will be accredited as media.
Media facilities
A Media Centre with facilities for print, online and electronic media will be available at the meeting venue. Access to media facilities will be available only to accredited media. Work stations will be provided in the Media Centre. Complimentary Wi-Fi will be available.w
Members of the media are invited to apply for accreditation by filling out the attached form and returning it to rachidis@dirco.gov.za and copy mtshalip@dirco.gov.za
NB: All fields in the template need to be completed for successful accreditation. The deadline is 06 October 2017.
For enquires or assistance with the attached form please contact:
Patience Mtshali
Cell: 083 376 9468
Nelson Kgwete
Cell: 076 431 3078
