IORA Summit Ends With Jakarta Concord

Jakarta (Antara Bali) - Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) member countries have produced Jakarta Accord to reaffirm their commitment to continue to increase their cooperation, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said here on Tuesday.

In a joint press statement with South Africa's President Jacob Zuma and Australia's Prime minister Malcolm Turnbull after the IORA summit  President Joko Widodo said this first IORA summit was a strategic and progressive step of leaders of IORA member countries to encourage IORA to be able to move quicker and face current situation as well as future challenges.

All leaders at the summit had been committed to continue to increase cooperation among member countries.

"This summit is a milestone to reform commitment of IORA member countries to intensify their cooperation. All the leaders are aware of the challenges being faced. All the leaders are also aware of their potentials and also the importance of safeguarding the Indian Ocean, an ocean that unites IORA members," he said.

In view of that to reaffirm their cooperation commitment they agreed to produce Jakarta Accord containing six commitments of IORA member countries.

The six commitments that have been reached includes advancing maritime security and safety, increasing trade and investment cooperation, advancing development and exploitation fisheries a responsible and sustainable way.

Others include strengthening disaster risk management, academic and scientific cooperation and advancing cooperation in the fields of tourism and culture.

"Besides the six cooperation commitments IORA leaders also encouraged IORA to strengthen cooperation in the three issues namely blue economy, women empowerment and democracy, good governance, corruption eradication and human rights," the president said.

IORA Member countries also agreed to create a secure and peaceful Indian Ocean including honoring UNCLOS 1982 (United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea) that has been the constitution to regulate the sea.

"A peaceful and secure Indian Ocean is the main prerequisite for the implementation of cooperation in other fields. One thing that has been warmly welcomed by IORA leaders is the implementation of IORA Business Summit. The network and cooperation between businesses must continue to be strengthened in the future," he remarked.

In response to Jakarta Concord  President Jacob Zuma said the commitments would be able to increase cooperation and existence of IORA.

He hailed the business forum that had been held on the sidelines of the summit.

"South Africa hailed the results of the business meetings which serve as signs of declaration between chambers of commerce and business communities of IORA member countries," he said.

Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull representing his country as the previous IORA chairman said Australia fully supported the commitments of IORA member countries that have been put in the Jakarta Concord.

For him Jakarta Concord is a road map for IORA journey in the future.

"Jakarta Concord gives a road map for IORA jobs in the future and reaffirms our commitment to build peace, stability and prosperity in our region. This is an important statement regarding shared values and goals to reach in the Indian Ocean region," Turnbull said.

Turnbull praised President Joko Widod for his leadership of Indonesia as a role model showcasing that Islam and democracy can live side by side.

"President Joko Widodo has shown extraordinary leadership in the region. In short he is so strong and persuasive. Indonesia has proven that Islam, democracy and modernization could go side by side. Indonesia leads with an example," he added. (WDY)