I

ndonesia is poised to take the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) into a conversation about the ongoing development of the Indo-Pacific region, as the group, which started a high-level panel in Bali on Friday, is set to produce concrete programs on maritime cooperation.

The two-day meeting is hosted by Indonesia and is a follow-up to the Jakarta Concord document and Action Plan 2017-2021, the products of IORA’s first summit held in Jakarta in 2017.

“The time is ripe for us to translate these directions and plans into practical implementation,” Deputy Foreign Minister AM Fachir said in the meeting’s opening ceremony.

He added that the maritime agenda was high on many priority lists, not only among IORA member states but also throughout the world as the global economy largely depends on the stability, safety and security of the oceans.

He said President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in 2014 announced Indonesia’s grand maritime vision, the Global Maritime Fulcrum, to focus on developing maritime cooperation in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Representatives from 15 member-states and five dialogue partner countries, as well as three international organizations, are attending the meeting.

There are six priorities for cooperation that will be translated into programs or workshops involve security in the Indian Ocean, promoting trade, enhancing connectivity, developing tourism cooperation, promoting sustainable fisheries and facilitating equal opportunities for growth.