The UAE participated in the Indian Ocean Rim Association’s (IORA) 22nd Council of Ministers (COM) meeting and the 24th Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) meeting held in Dhaka, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, from 22 to 24 November.

The UAE delegation was led by His Excellency Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Minister of State, and included His Excellency Dr. Abdulnasser Al Shaali, UAE Ambassador to India, and His Excellency Abdullah Ali Al Hamoudi, UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh.

During the meetings, which were chaired by Bangladesh and held under the theme of “Harnessing the Opportunities of the Indian Ocean Sustainably for Inclusive Development,” the UAE affirmed its commitment to promoting inclusive growth and prosperity within the Indian Ocean region, as well as its continued support for IORA’s critical role as the region’s primary multilateral body.

In line with the UAE’s commitment to supporting IORA and the Indian Ocean region, the launch of the Sheikh Zayed IORA Scholarship for Humanitarian Action and Development was officially announced.

This initiative will grant scholarships to young professionals from IORA member states in the Master’s program at the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in Abu Dhabi.

The Sheikh Zayed IORA Scholarship for Humanitarian Action and Development is a tribute to Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s commitment to enhancing human development and sustainable growth globally.

The UAE joined IORA in 1999 and chaired the organization between 2019 and 2021. IORA was established in 1997 with the aim of promoting regional cooperation, prosperity, and growth in the Indian Ocean region through joint action in areas such as maritime security and safety, trade and investment, fisheries management, disaster risk management, tourism and cultural exchange, academic, scientific and technological cooperation, women’s economic empowerment, and the Blue Economy.

Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation