India has admitted as observer to the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) | Important for Prelims 2021

The Indian Ocean Commission (IOC)

• It is an intergovernmental organization created in 1982.
• It was institutionalized in 1984 by the Victoria Agreementin Seychelles.
• The COI is composed of five African Indian Ocean nations: Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, Réunion (an overseas region of France), and Seychelles.
• 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 Commission has a Secretariat which is located in Mauritius and headed by a Secretary General.
• The Commission has four observers — China, EU, Malta and International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF).

Objectives:

1. Political and diplomatic cooperation,
2. Economic and commercial cooperation
3. Sustainable development in a globalisation context, cooperation in the field of agriculture, maritime fishing, and the conservation of resources and ecosystems
4. Strengthening of the regional cultural identity, cooperation in cultural, scientific, technical, educational and judicial fields.