"The first IORA Summit has just concluded in a smooth, productive, and constructive way," Jokowi said.
Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Joko Widodo said the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Summit 2017, which was for the first time ever held on Tuesday ran in a smooth, productive and constructive way.

The president made the remarks in a joint press statement with South African President Jacob Zuma, and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull at the Jakarta Convention Center (JCC).

"The first IORA Summit has just concluded in a smooth, productive, and constructive way," Jokowi pointed out.

According to him, IORA state leaders welcomed the holding of the conference.

"This is to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the IORA," the president stated, adding that the first-ever summit was held within the scope of IORA as the area that stretches across the Indian Ocean.

Jokowi further said the implementation of the summit constitutes a strategic and progressive step of the IORA leaders to encourage it to be able to move more quickly.

Indonesia will immediately end its leadership of the IORA and will be replaced by South Africa as IORA chairman.

Earlier, leaders of 21 IORA member states signed the Jakarta Concord as an outcome of the IORA Leaders Summit held on Tuesday.

The document titled "Promoting Regional Cooperation for a Peaceful, Stable, and Prosperous Indian Ocean" aims to lay the foundation and set the course for cooperation for the organization of Indian Ocean states in the coming years.

In the Jakarta Concord, the IORA states declared their commitment to promoting maritime safety in the region; enhancing trade and investment cooperation in the region; promoting the management and development of sustainable fisheries; enhancing disaster risk management in the region; strengthening academic, science, and technology cooperation; fostering tourism and cultural exchanges; Blue Economy; and empowering women in the economy.

During the IORA Leaders Summit, President Joko Widodo affirmed that the Indian Ocean is the region of the future.

"We believe that the Indian Ocean is currently developing into a key axis in the world," President Widodo stated in his opening remarks during the First Summit of the IORA.

The IORA leaders who attended the summit are South African President Jacob Zuma, Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena, Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Abdul Razak, and Yemeni President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, among others.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
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