Preface

Comprising 20 member states and covering a region with a total gross domestic product of US$6.5 trillion in 2011, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) possesses great potential to facilitate regional cooperation. It seeks to become a serious actor in the international system and to spearhead future regional integration as the Indian Ocean grows in economic importance. To this end, the Perth Principles promulgated during the 13^th Council of Ministers of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) meeting in November 2013 re-affirmed six priority areas of cooperation for the organisation, namely: (i) maritime safety and security; (ii) trade and investment facilitation; (iii) fisheries management; (iv) disaster risk management; (v) academic and science and technology cooperation; and (vi) tourism and cultural exchanges.

In conjunction with the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), IORA held a Workshop on “IORA and Strategic Stability in the Indian Ocean” on 5 March  2014 in Mauritius. The Workshop focused on ways to promote security cooperation as a stepping stone towards strategic stability. Key security challenges to the region, including issues related to building inter-state trust and confidence, were discussed during the panel meeting. Barriers to effective cooperation among IORA member states and external stakeholders were also examined before the workshop concluded with recommendations on possible ways forward for IORA.