1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, together with the Korea National Diplomatic Academy and the Korea International Trade Association, will co-host the 1st Republic of Korea-Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Partnership Seminar at the Westin Chosun Seoul on October 29, 2020.

° The ROK-IORA Partnership Seminar, which is held in 2020 for the first time, is a track-1.5 consultative mechanism that the ROK government proposed at the 19th IORA Council of Ministers Meeting in Abu Dhabi in November 2019 with the goal of expanding information exchanges and seeking out areas for substantive cooperation with IORA’s Member States and Secretariat. The upcoming Seminar will bring together people from governments, academias and business circles of the ROK and IORA Member States as well as officials of the IORA Secretariat.

2. At the forthcoming Seminar themed “Navigating the Path to Peace and Prosperity for the People in the Indian Ocean amid Pandemic,” the participants will explore a linkage between the ROK’s New Southern Policy and the Indian Ocean Rim cooperation pursued by IORA, and discuss non-traditional security issues focusing on blue economy, and ways for cooperation on digital trade and investment which have been drawing attention since the outbreak of COVID-19.

3. The 1st ROK-IORA Partnership Seminar will serve as a platform for policy and academic exchanges between the ROK and Indian Ocean Rim countries. As such, it is expected to be a meaningful opportunity that can enhance mutual understanding and promote friendship and cooperation with these countries, and contribute to the diversification of the ROK’s foreign policies.