Indian Ocean Rim-Association For Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC)

Seychelles rejoined the Indian Ocean Rim-Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) in November, after withdraw in 2003. The IOR-ARC is a regional forum, tripartite in nature, bringing together representatives of Government, Business and Academia, for promoting co-operation and closer interaction among them. It is based on the principles of Open Regionalism for strengthening Economic Cooperation particularly for the on Trade Facilitation and Investment, Promotion as well as Social Development of the region.

The objective of the IOR-ARC is to:

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2. Promote the sustained growth and balanced development of the region and of the Member States, and to create common ground for regional economic co-operation. o
3. Focus on areas of economic co-operation, relating to trade facilitation and liberalization, promotion of foreign investment, scientific and technological exchanges, tourism, movement of natural persons and service providers on a non-discriminatory basis; and the development of infrastructure and human resources inter-alia poverty alleviation, promotion of maritime transport and related matters, cooperation in the fields of fisheries trade, research and management, aquaculture, education and training, energy, IT, health, protection of the environment, agriculture, disaster management. o
4. Explore all possibilities and avenues for trade liberalization, to remove impediments to, and lower barrier towards freer and enhanced flow of goods, services, investment, and technology within the region. o
5. Encourage close interaction of trade and industry, academic institutions, scholars and the peoples of the Member States without any discrimination among Member States and without prejudice to obligations under other regional economic and trade co-operation arrangement. o
6. Strengthen co-operation and dialogue among Member States in international forum on global economic issues, and were desirable to develop shared strategies and take common positions in the international forum on issues of mutual interest. o
7. Promote co-operation in development of human resources, particularly through closer linkages among training institutions, universities and other specialized institutions of the Member States.