India as new observer of IOC

India was admitted to the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC: Commission de l'Océan Indien, COI) as an observer after it applied last month to be considered for observer status.

Framework

The five-member grouping is important given India’s plans to expand in The Western Indian Ocean (WIO) which is strategically connects the Indian Ocean to the Southeastern coast of Africa and beyond

Details

➤The decision was taken at the meeting of the IOC Conference of ministers in Seychelles making India the fifth observer.

➤The other four observers are China, Malta, European Union and International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

➤The member states are known to be erstwhile French colonies or partly British, partly French colonies. With France a member of IOC because of Reunion Islands, sources say they played a key role in ensuring India’s admission.

➤Therefore, the admission of India, even as an observer, to IOC is of great strategic significance since it will allow collective engagement with the island nations of western Indian Ocean (WIO) and further boost ties with an already strong friend, France.

➤The move will also lend greater significance to India’s SAGAR (Security and Growth for all in the Region) policy of the administration.

About IOC ?

➛The Indian Ocean Commission (French: Commission de l'Océan Indien, COI) is an intergovernmental organization

➛The IOC was created in 1982 at Port Louis, Mauritius, and later institutionalised in 1984 by the Victoria Agreement in Seychelles.

➛It has five member nations- Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Reunion (an overseas region of France) and Seychelles.

➛The Commission has a Secretariat which is located in Mauritius and headed by a Secretary General. The current Secretary General, Hamada Madi, is a former President of Comoros who was appointed January 2016.

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