“.. the natural urge of the facts of history and geography should broaden itself to include the concept of an Indian Ocean Rim for socio-economic co-operation and other peaceful endeavours. Recent changes in the international system demand that the countries of the Indian Ocean shall become a single platform.” As a result, by early March 1995, we had already convened a meeting to discuss the enhancement of economic co-operation among countries of the Indian Ocean Rim in Mauritius. Representatives from the government, business sectors and academia, of Australia, India, Kenya, Mauritius, Sultanate of Oman, Singapore and South Africa, known as the “Core Group States” or M-7, attended the meeting. By 1996, the membership had doubled to include Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Yemen, Tanzania, Madagascar and Mozambique, known as the M-14 where-after we saw the launching of the Charter of the Organisation and the subsequent Ministerial Meetings.

Available: http://www.dirco.gov.za/docs/speeches/2015/mfek0504.htm