Turkey's application for the status of Dialogue Partnership in the “Indian Ocean Rim Association- IORA” has been approved in the IORA Ministerial Council Meeting which was held in Durban-South Africa, on 31 October - 2 November 2018.

IORA is the only platform that brings together 21 coastal States bordering the Indian Ocean (Australia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Bangladesh, Somalia, Kenya, Malaysia, Madagascar, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, UAE, Yemen, Singapore, Oman, Sri Lanka, Comoros, Seychelles, Mauritius) and has been in operation for more than 20 years.

Turkey’s Dialogue Partnership with IORA will contribute to strenghten our relations with the Indian Ocean region which has a great economic potential and the rim countries with many of which we have historical affinity, and in this manner to diversify the international relations and promotion of our country, and its quest for new export markets.