1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs hosted the 4th ROK-IORA Partnership Seminar on December 14, 2023, in Seoul.

* The Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), established in 1997 to promote economic and social cooperation among countries along the Indian Ocean coast, welcomed the Republic of Korea as a Dialogue Partner in November 2018.

- IORA Member Countries (23): India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Maldives, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, Iran, UAE, Yemen, Oman, South Africa, Kenya, Somalia, Madagascar, Tanzania, Mozambique, Mauritius, Seychelles, Comoros, France

- Dialogue Partners (11): Korea, USA, China, Japan, UK, Germany, Egypt, Türkiye, Italy, Russia, Saudi Arabia

2. The ROK-IORA Partnership Seminar is a track-1.5 platform for policy and academic exchange proposed by Korea during the 19th IORA Council of Ministers Meeting in November 2019. The seminar aims to enhance mutual understanding between Korea and IORA and explore specific areas of cooperation. Previous seminars were held in October 2020, July 2021, and June 2022.

3. With H.E. Salman Al Farisi, the IORA Secretary General, attending the seminar in person for the first time, participants discussed various ways to strengthen cooperation in disaster management, one of IORA's eight priority areas, particularly in the area of marine debris.

* IORA's 8 Priority Areas: Maritime Safety&Security, Trade and Investment Facilitation, Fisheries Management, Academic, Scientific & Technology Cooperation, Disaster Risk Management, Tourism and Cultural Exchanges, Women's Economic Empowerment, Blue Economy

4. The participants focused on the comprehensive and systematic management and response strategies for marine debris, addressing issues related to marine ecosystem conservation and sustainable fisheries. The seminar adopted a hybrid format, combining online and offline participation.

5. The Korean government expressed its commitment to actively contributing to the sustainable development and prosperity of the Indian Ocean community by continually strengthening a collaborative network tailored to the Indian Ocean region.