Indian Ocean Commission

Why in news?

• India has been approved as an observer state for a five-nation grouping in the Western Indian Ocean, which includes Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles, Mauritius and French Reunion.

About Indian Ocean Commission

• The Indian Ocean Commission (COI) is an intergovernmental organization that was created in 1982 at Port Louis, Mauritius and institutionalized in 1984 by the Victoria Agreement in Seychelles.

• The COI is composed of five African Indian Ocean nations: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion (an overseas region of France), and Seychelles.

• Notwithstanding their different characteristics, the five islands share geographic proximity, historical and demographic relationships, natural resources and common development issues.

• COI's principal mission is to strengthen the ties of friendship between the countries and to be a platform of solidarity for the entire population of the African Indian Ocean region.

• The COI works on four pillars which have been adopted in 2005 by the Summit of Heads of States:

  • Political and diplomatic cooperation,

  • Economic and commercial cooperation

  • Sustainable development in a globalisation context, cooperation in the field of agriculture, maritime fishing, and the conservation of resources and ecosystems

  • Strengthening of the regional cultural identity, cooperation in cultural, scientific, technical, educational and judicial fields.

• Being an organization regrouping only island states, the COI has usually championed the cause of small island states in regional and international fora.

• India has been approved as an observer in COI

Prelims Question

Q.Which of the following countries is/are members of the Indian Ocean Commission (COI)?
1. Madagascar
2. Mauritius
3. India
4. Sri Lanka
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a. 1 and 2 only
b. 1,2 and 3 only
c. 2,3 and 4 only
d. 1,2,3 and 4

Answer to the Prelims Question