In a bid to help take steps to boost, among others, trade and economic cooperation between the countries bordering the Indian Ocean including India, the 21 member nations of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) have decided to undertake joint research and policy dialogue.
Towards this, the Delhi-based think-tank Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS) and the IORA signed an MoU to institutionalize arrangements for greater academic cooperation in the region as well as in economic and development issues. India is an IORA member.
The scope of collaborative endeavours between the two sides would include, among others, trade and investment facilitation and maritime security, the RIS said in a statement.
The MoU would enable research scholars and other stakeholders of both sides to come up with innovative strategies and solutions for sustainable economic growth of the region and devise ways and means for the maintenance of peace and tranquility in the region for enhanced economic and energy security cooperation, it added.
