Member's Area
Indian Ocean Rim Association
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Action Plan

Vision

To formulate and implement projects for economic co-operation relating to trade facilitation, promotion and liberalisation; promotion of foreign investment, scientific and technological exchanges, and tourism, movement of natural persons and service providers on a non-discriminatory basis; and development of infrastructure and human resources, as laid down in the Work Programme of the Association. (Art. 3.2 of IORARC Charter)

Policy Guidelines:

1. ENHANCEMENT of Trade, Investment, Finance AND ENERGY COOPERATION within the Region

Sectoral approach in Investment, Trade and Finance;Cooperation and Investment in Energy Security and support for joint action on fossil, and renewable sources of energy;

  • Facilitate the evolvement of a Clearing Payment Arrangement (CPA) for IOR-ARC including the issue of joining the Asian Clearing Union (ACU);
  • Finalisation and implementation of a framework for a Preferential Trade Arrangement (PTA) by 2012;
  • Linking existing agencies and institutions of: Export Promotion Boards, Overseas Marketing Organisations, Tourism Promotion Boards, Research Bodies, Export Credit Banks and the like that normally deal with capacity building in trade and infrastructure development mechanism in Member States. It would be vital for these institutions to be brought into the Association through linkages and networking; and, Support for the establishment of a Shipper's Council.

2.      EDUCATION, CULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

Support the setting up and the operationalisation of a Regional Centre on Science and Transfer of Technology; Fortify the activities of the UMIOR including active student/staff exchange programmes; Support capacity building in the area of Science and Technology for academics and researchers; and, Support Cultural Cooperation among Member States.

3.      ENHANCING COOPERATION ON FISHERIES

Enhancing cooperation in the Fisheries Support Unit (FSU).
 
4.       PROMOTION OF TOURISM COOPERATION

Participation in Regional Trade and Tourism Exhibitions;Infrastructure Investments in tourism related projects; and, Support the existing Feasibility Study on Tourism.

5.      DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND RISK REDUCTION

Carry out Study on the Sources of Pollution, Distribution Mechanisms and their impact on the Coastal Ecosystems including the Marine Environment of theIndian Ocean; Modelling of effect of Tsunami in theGulfofOman; and,  Support the efforts of Member States on Avian Flu.

6.      INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)

Optimisation of the iornet.com website as a tool for sharing economic information including updating of information on web links of Customs and Quarantine Standards; and,Assist in the early completion of Compendia on Customs and Quarantine and Standards.
 
Besides the above priority sectors, provision was also kept to add new areas bearing focus on the Indian Ocean which would be unique to this Association and have a higher bearing on Member States thus adding value to regional cooperation within IOR-ARC.  The new areas could be added to the priority areas, subject to adoption by the Council of Ministers.
 
Implementation Mechanism:

The Sub-Committee stressed on the need of the following to ensure proper implementation of the projects:

  • Strengthening of the National Focal Points as the implementing framework;
  • A regional level project-based facilitator role for the Heads of Missions in Pretoria to expedite the completion of projects;   
  • Setting up of sectoral working groups after finalization of priority areas; and,
  • Half yearly meetings at the level of Senior / Technical officials of Member States.


FINANCING MECHANISM:

The prime responsibility for financing any project of IOR-ARC is with the participating Member States;Resources of the IOR-ARC Special Fund may be approached as a complementary mechanism; and, The financial and technical assistance of Dialogue Partner States, and other National, Regional, International and Donor Organizations may also be mobilised.