TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo alias Jokowi has welcomed the heads of states attending the IORA Summit at the Jakarta Convention Center on Tuesday morning, March 7.

After a brief talk, Jokowi allowed the heads of state to be seated. Jokowi had been slated to open the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Summit 2017 at 9 am.

On the same occasion, Jokowi is scheduled to join a general debate as well as adopt and sign the IORA Concord with his counterparts.

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President Jokowi will later have a launch reception with the heads of IORA member states. Moreover, he is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings.

Earlier, Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi said that the IORA Summit will be attended by 21 member states and seven dialogue partners. Four out of 21 member states and six out of seven dialogue partners are members of the G20.

According to the Foreign Minister, the IORA Summit is among the most important forums that would help ensure security and drive economic growth in the Indian Ocean rim.

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“…the Indian Ocean rim boasts a population of 2.7 million people, half of global containers, one-third of global cargos, two-third of global energy shipments pass through [the region],” she said.

She said that Indonesia hosts the IORA Summit to show leadership in the Indian Ocean rim.

The Foreign Minister also named six priorities of the IORA: maritime security and safety, trade facility and investments, disaster risk management, fishery management, academy, science and technology, and cultural exchange.

ANTARA