Overview
Issues of interest to IORG include Australia–India relations, peace and security, regionalism, geopolitical orientations of Indian Ocean states, energy security, small island states, human and economic development, sea lanes of communication, trade, ocean resources, the environment and environmental security. The IORG was incorporated in June 2007. Its Chairperson is Professor Dennis Rumley of Edith Cowan University, Australia.
Their website states that IORG was built on two pillars – one in India and one in Australia. Furthermore, the original IORG charter envisaged other developments, including regional training and education, an annual Indian Ocean lecture, an Indian Ocean Policy Seminar and a broader publication programme. In 2010, at the Closed Session of the 10th Council of Ministers (COM) Meeting of the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) on 5th August*, IORG has also got IOR-ARC Observer Status.
The IORG holds regular meetings around the Indian Ocean, at Chandigarh (2002), Tehran (2004), Kuala Lumpur (2006), and Muscat (2007), and meetings are planned for Australia (2008) and Réunion (2009).
Read more about this topic: Indian Ocean Research Group