Foreign Ministry Launches IORA Indonesia 2026 Task Force in Padang

RRI.CO.ID, Padang – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia officially launched the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) Indonesia 2026 Task Force in Padang, West Sumatra, on Monday, August 10, 2026.

The launch was led by Director General for Asia-Pacific and Africa (Aspasaf) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Santo Darmosumarto, during a Coordination Meeting on Strengthening Indonesia’s Cooperation within IORA. The meeting was attended by representatives from relevant ministries and government agencies as well as the West Sumatra Provincial Government.

He emphasized that the effectiveness of Indonesia’s diplomacy within IORA depends heavily on consistency and strong coordination at the domestic level. “We need to shift our coordination pattern from ad hoc coordination to one that is active, structured, and sustainable,” he said in a statement received in Jakarta on Tuesday, August 11, 2026.

The reactivation of the task force, which was initially established in 2025, is part of the government’s efforts to safeguard Indonesia’s national interests in the Indian Ocean region.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Indian Ocean is not only a major transcontinental shipping route, but also a strategic space where global geopolitical and geoeconomic dynamics converge, making IORA an important platform for Indonesia.

Through IORA, Indonesia is advancing several national priorities, including maritime security, the blue economy, disaster management, trade and investment, and women’s economic empowerment.

The establishment of the IORA Indonesia 2026 Task Force is expected to encourage the formulation of concrete work programs that deliver tangible benefits to the region while overseeing Indonesia’s strategic agenda during its chairmanship of the IORA Working Group on the Blue Economy.

The task force will also promote cross-sectoral cooperation, optimize the use of dedicated IORA funding, and strengthen partnerships with IORA dialogue partners. During his visit to West Sumatra, Santo also met with West Sumatra Governor Mahyeldi Ansharullah and officials from the provincial government.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, West Sumatra’s geographical position facing directly toward the Indian Ocean provides significant potential for developing regional cooperation in support of national priorities, particularly improving connectivity and strengthening energy and food security.

The meeting also identified several potential joint initiatives between the central and regional governments to strengthen cooperation with countries in the Indian Ocean region in 2027.