<span style="color: #222222;">India today reaffirmed its strong commitment to strengthening Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA). Virtually participating in the 21st Annual Council of Ministers (COM) meeting, Minister of State in External Affairs ministry Rajkumar Ranjan Singh said,  IORA, the largest and pre-eminent organization in the Indian Ocean Region, is promoting peace, security, and prosperity in the region as well as in the wider Indo-Pacific. Mr. Singh highlighted India's contributions as coordinator of the IORA priority areas of Disaster Risk Management (DRM). During the Strategic Dialogue on the topic Impact of COVID-19 and perspectives of economic recovery in the Indian Ocean Region, the minister provided an overview of India's own experience of combating COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Singh highlighted India's assistance as the first responder in the region to various countries in the Indo-Pacific during the Covid pandemic and emphasized India's readiness to share its experience and resources in the spirit of solidarity.</span><br />