IOC Ministerial Meeting – Post of Secretary General assigned to Mauritius

The 27^th session of the Council of Ministers of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC) hosted yesterday by Mauritius at the Sofitel Hotel, Flic en Flac, saw the post of Secretary General being assigned to a Mauritian, Mr. Jean-Claude de l’Estrac.

Mr. de l’Estrac will take up office in July 2012 for a four-year mandate, after Mr. Callixte d’Offay from Seychelles completes his term as Secretary General.

The Council of Ministers meeting, chaired by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade, Dr. A. Boolell, was also marked by the handing over of the chairmanship to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Seychelles, Mr Jean-Paul Adam.

The meeting saw, for the first time since March 2009, the participation of delegations, led by their Ministers, from all five Member States (Madagascar, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Comoros and France/Reunion Island). Development partners such as the European Union, the Agence Française de Développement, and the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), were also in attendance.

Apart from decisions to be taken as regards the fields of intervention on the agenda of discussions, the Council Meeting, on request of the Mauritian chair, examined closely two key dossiers pertaining to regional integration, namely political cooperation and economic cooperation between Member States. Moreover, this 27^th session reacted to issues in the limelight in order to bring about concerted regional response elements to common problems such as piracy, the risk of marine pollution as well as shark attacks.

On the political level, the specific and decisive role played by the Chair and the Secretary General of the IOC in the signature of the roadmap by the political actors in Madagascar was highlighted. This organisational role of proximity is recognised by the international community. The Council Meeting has proposed, in accordance with modalities to be decided, the collaboration of the IOC with the liaison office of the SADC in Madagascar. In this context, the partnership with the OIF will be reinforced, particularly in organising and in observing future elections.

As regards the fight against maritime piracy which constitutes a threat to two economic pillars which are fisheries and tourism, the Council Meeting has decided to create an Anti-piracy Unit under the authority of the Secretary General of the IOC to be set up in Seychelles. Experts from Member States will form part of this Unit.

On the economic chapter, the mandate of the Comité de Pilotage sur l’Espace Economique et Commercial, which has the responsibility to intensify exchanges between the islands of the IOC and accelerate regional integration, has been defined. The Council Meeting has requested the IOC to support, in collaboration with the Union des Chambres de Commerce et d’Industrie des Iles de l’Océan Indien, the promotion of the Indian Ocean destination under the label Iles Vanille.
The Meeting entrusted various mandates to the IOC in the context of its strategic orientations. These include the implementation of new projects pertaining to economic development, human development and protection of populations, protection of the environment and valorisation of natural resources; the signature of regional or international conventions or protocols; and the elaboration of strategies as regards aid for trade, fisheries, gender, culture and adaptation to climate change.