The two-day Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) Meeting kicked off in Sylhet on Wednesday.
Bangladesh, the current Chair of IORA, is hosting the 13th Bi-Annual CSO Meeting of IORA on 13-14 June.
A total of 75 delegates from 23 IORA Member States and IORA Secretariat are attending the CSO.
They will discuss various issues relating to six priority areas and two focus areas of IORA including Maritime Safety and Security; Trade and Investment Facilitation; Fisheries Management; Disaster Risk Management; Tourism and Cultural Exchanges; Academic, Science and Technology Cooperation; Blue Economy and Women's Economic Empowerment, reports BSS.
Other important issues including institutional arrangement and broadening engagement will also be discussed.
Foreign Minister Dr A K Abdul Momen announced the opening of 13th Bi-Annual CSO through a video message.
Secretary, Maritime Affairs Unit of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Rear Admiral (retd) Md Khurshed Alam made the opening remarks alongside presiding over the meeting.
IORA Secretary General Dr Salman Al Farisi; Vice-Chair Sudharshan Seneviratne, Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Bangladesh; IORA past chair Ahmed Albadawi, Acting Deputy Director of Economic and Trade Affairs Department, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs also spoke at the opening session.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
