Welcome Message
The Minister of External Affairs of India
Mr. S.M.Krishna
It has been 14 years since the Indian Ocean Rim initiative was taken forward to the logical next step of establishing a formal Association for Regional Cooperation. As a founder Member, India is honoured to Chair the IOR-ARC and host the 11th meeting of its Council of Ministers in November this year.
Our 10th meeting last year in Yemen produced a substantial platform for future cooperation. We must now build on this edifice to make IOR-ARC relevant to the nearly two billion people of our 18 countries. We can only do so if cooperation acquires stronger economic and commercial dimensions, especially in areas with an immediate impact on the betterment of the lives of our people and addresses issues of interest to our region.
It is in this spirit that I welcome the Ministers, senior officials, businesspersons, academics and media representatives of the nations of the IOR-ARC for our 11th Meeting. I am confident that our deliberations will contribute to further strengthening regional cooperation among the countries united by the waters of the Indian Ocean.
I am especially pleased to welcome the delegates to Bengaluru, a city justly known both as a garden city and as India's technology capital.
I wish you a pleasant stay and productive discussions.
(S.M. Krishna)