Sanjiv Ranjan appointed next Secretary General of Indian Ocean Rim Association

Senior Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Sanjiv Ranjan, a member of the 1993 batch, was appointed as the next Secretary General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) on Monday. The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed the appointment, stating that Ranjan will assume the position shortly.

The Indian Ocean Rim Association is a regional organisation that brings together countries bordering the Indian Ocean to promote economic cooperation, sustainable development, and regional security. It is an important platform for enhancing India’s engagement with its maritime neighbors and fostering collaborative efforts across key sectors such as trade, tourism, environmental sustainability, and fisheries.

The organisation comprises 23 member states, including India, Australia, Indonesia, and South Africa, and is supported by 12 dialogue partners, such as China, the European Union, and the United States. In 2015, IORA was granted observer status at both the United Nations General Assembly and the African Union, underscoring its growing influence in both regional and international affairs.