Mauritius: Regional cooperation, especially in the fields of maritime security, natural resource management and trade facilitation, is critical for responding proactively, efficiently and innovatively to the existing and unprecedented challenges impacting the world as well as the Indian Ocean region.
This was the gist of the message of the Attorney General, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, President of the Council of Ministers of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), Maneesh Gobin, yesterday at the 40th-anniversary celebrations of the IOC, at the InterContinental Resort, in Balaclava.
The Secretary General of the IOC, Vêlayoudom Marimoutou, representatives from the IOC Member States, and other personalities were also present.
In his address, Minister Gobin recalled the institutionalisation of the IOC, following the signing of the General Agreement on Cooperation, commonly known as the ‘Victoria Agreement’, in 1984.
He extended his gratitude to the five Member States, namely Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, France (for Réunion) and Seychelles, for the synergetic implementation of the IOC programmes and activities and dwelt on the four decades of achievements.
Gobin, moreover, urged the IOC partners and observers to collectively chart the way forward for future innovative and adaptive initiatives to respond to threats such as natural calamities and human-induced risks, including piracy and illegal trafficking.
Such an endeavour, he indicated, will be feasible through the continued reinforcement of surveillance mechanisms, the exchange of information, collective response, conservation and the protection of the rich cultural heritage.
Championing the significance of fostering solidarity, open communication and mutual respect, the Minister recalled that the dialogue session held in November 2023, with representatives of the Member States, constituted an opportunity to foster unity and strengthen commitment to meet the objectives of the IOC.
The General Agreement on Cooperation, revised and adopted by the Council of Ministers of the IOC in 2020, is currently in the ratification process, he pointed out.
Besides, Gobin informed that the restructuration of the IOC staff organisational chart is in process. Mauritius will allocate additional space for the Secretary-General in Ebene so that the personnel can leverage from a more conducive working environment, he further added.
For his part, Marimoutou reiterated the imperativeness of regional cooperation to cater for the pressing needs of Member States. He also outlined the numerous achievements of the IOC since its setting up 40 years ago, specifically in the areas of telecommunications, maritime security, drug seizure, ecosystem and fisheries security.