With reference to the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), consider the

Question

With reference to the Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC), consider the following statements:It was established very recently in response to incidents of piracy and accidents of oil spills.It is an alliance meant for maritime security only.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Accepted Answer

The Indian Ocean Rim Association for Regional Cooperation (IOR-ARC) was established in Mauritius in March 1997. It is a regional cooperation initiative of the Indian Ocean Rim countries aimed at promoting economic and technical cooperation. IOR-ARC is the only pan-Indian ocean grouping, bringing together countries from three continents with diverse sizes, economic strengths, languages, and cultures.The association's primary goal is to create a platform for trade, socio-economic, and cultural cooperation in the Indian Ocean rim area, which encompasses a population of about two billion people.Regarding the statements in the question:Statement 1 is incorrect because IOR-ARC was not established recently nor specifically in response to incidents of piracy and oil spills.Statement 2 is incorrect because the association is not solely focused on maritime security; it encompasses broader economic and technical cooperation.Therefore, the correct answer is (d) Neither 1 nor 2.