UAE Minister of Economy Sultan bin Saeed Al Mansouri headed the UAE delegation to the Indian Ocean Rim Association (Iora)14th Council of Ministers Meeting which concluded in Perth, Australia.
The three-day meeting discussed areas of priority to Iora-member countries, including maritime security and safety in the Indian Ocean Region; trade and investment facilitation; fisheries management; disaster risk reduction; academic, science and technology cooperation; tourism and cultural exchanges, as well as tapping the vast potential of the “blue economy”.
Al Mansouri said the UAE will assume the Iora’s vice-chair status between 2017 and 2019.
“Attending the Iora’s14th Council of Ministers is part of the UAE’s international cooperation commitment, in line with the vision of the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai,” he said.
Al Mansouri noted that as a peace-loving country, the UAE calls for a collective international effort to combat maritime piracy, which poses a threat to the maritime security, particularly in the Indian Ocean.
On renewable energy, he said efforts were underway to implement recommendations of the first Iora Renewable Energy Ministerial Forum which was held in Abu Dhabi last January.
Al Mansouri said his speech at the meeting focused on the need to enhance cultural and tourism exchange among member countries.
Source: Khaleej Times
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