H. E. Mr. Sanjiv Ranjan assumed the role of Secretary-General of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) on January 1, 2025 for a tenure of 3 years. A distinguished diplomat with three decades of experience in international relations and cooperation, Mr. Ranjan is set to lead IORA’s efforts in fostering regional collaboration among IORA Member States. Mr. Ranjan holds a B.A. (Honours) in Economics from Delhi University and an M.A. in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He joined the Indian Foreign Service in 1993 and has since built a distinguished career in diplomacy in multilateral and bilateral cooperation.
From 1995 to 2009, Mr. Ranjan held various diplomatic positions in Indian embassies in Madrid and Lima and at the Permanent Mission of India in New York. His tenure included significant roles in the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi. He also served as Deputy High Commissioner of India to Mauritius from 2006 to 2009, strengthening ties and contributing to regional cooperation. In 2009, Mr. Ranjan was appointed Director (North) in the MEA and, later, Joint Secretary in the Development Partnership Administration in 2012, overseeing critical projects in India’s neighborhood. He was instrumental in coordinating the third India-Africa Forum Summit held in New Delhi in 2015.
His ambassadorial assignments include serving as India’s Ambassador to Argentina with concurrent accreditation to Uruguay and Paraguay (2016-2019) and to Colombia with concurrent accreditation to Ecuador (2019-2022). Most recently, he has been serving as Officer on Special Duty (Secretary Rank) overseeing personnel, establishment, and e-governance within the MEA in Government of India.
Fluent in English, Hindi, and Spanish, Mr. Ranjan is renowned for his diplomatic skills and his commitment to fostering international partnerships. His appointment as Secretary-General of IORA marks the beginning of a new chapter for the organization, which plays a pivotal role in promoting cooperation among Indian Ocean Rim Member States, Dialogue Partners and Other International Stakeholders.
The Secretary-General is appointed by the Council of Ministers (COM) for a term of three years, renewable for one additional term, from among the candidates nominated by the Member States. The selection is guided by parameters of qualification, experience and suitability as laid down in the staff regulations of the IORA Secretariat.
He/She is responsible to the COM for all activities of the Association. The Secretary-General participates in all meetings of the Council and performs such other functions as are entrusted to him by these organs. He/She provides an annual report to the Council of Ministers on the work of the Association.
His predecessors were:
