The 10th session of the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) kicked off on Saturday in Yemen's capital, Sana'a, with issues of economic, scientific and technological cooperation high on the agenda.
Delegates from the 18 member states are attending the six-day session.
Over the week, meetings by IOR-ARC senior officials, business forum, trade and investment committee and report committee would be held, and on the final day, the meeting of Foreign Ministry officials will take place. At the meetings, Yemen, chair of the session, will hand over the rotating presidency of the association to India.
Officials at the Foreign Ministry said the agenda included vital topics such as the establishment of a maritime transport council, discussing the studies conducted by Oman over tourist opportunities in the member states and activating the fish and science and technology centers in Oman and Iran.
Moreover, the session will address coordination to fight human and agricultural pandemics, trade preference systems and boosting ties among businessmen and commerce and industry chambers. Topics about the association charter and bylaws and as well as other management issues would be discussed as well.
The Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) was found in 1997 for economic and trade purposes.
It consists of Yemen, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Australia, Malaysia, Indonesia, Madagascar, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Mozambique, Tanzania, India, Iran, South Africa, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Kenya.