Pretoria - President Jacob Zuma says the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Leaders’ Summit was successful.
He said this at the conclusion of the Summit that was held in Indonesia to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the association. President Zuma said the IORA has grown in stature due to their guidance and robust leadership.
“With the adoption and signing of the IORA Concord and its Action Plan for implementation that the Council of Ministers will take forward, we are well placed to take IORA into the next decade.
“The Concord has greatly elevated the status of the Association. We look forward to all the Members signing the document in due course,” he said.
President Zuma said South Africa welcomes the key outcome of the Business Summit, which was the declaration signed between the Chambers of Commerce and business communities of IORA Member States.
“Their support and involvement is critical to us achieving our goals of greater economic cooperation that are enshrined in the IORA Charter.
“South Africa takes pride in being one of the founding Member States. The Association owes its conceptual foundation to South Africa’s President Nelson Mandela. We look forward to welcoming Members of IORA to South Africa when we assume the IORA Chair from Indonesia.”
He said South Africa will continue to work with Indonesia very closely in the IORA Troika as it strives to ensure continuity and the consolidation of the solid platform that was laid by Indonesia, Australia and India as IORA Chairs before the country. - SAnews.gov.za
