The new office will coordinate technical assistance to countries in the region in the areas of maritime safety, security, and environmental sustainability.
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has inaugurated its Regional Presence Office for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during a ceremony held in the historic port city of Alexandria, Egypt.
This step highlights the IMO’s commitment to enhancing maritime cooperation and capacity-building in one of the world’s most strategically important regions.
The region plays a central role in global maritime trade and has firmly committed to supporting the maritime sector. IMO Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez and high-level dignitaries attended the event, including His Excellency General Kamel Al-Wazir, the Vice Prime Minister for Industrial Development, who represented the Egyptian government.
Secretary-General Dominguez stated: « This Regional Presence Office reflects our commitment to bringing the IMO closer to the regions. This office will serve as a bridge to address regional maritime challenges by encouraging collaboration and ensuring that the voices and needs of MENA countries are effectively represented on the global stage. »
The Regional Presence Office will play a central role in implementing IMO’s technical cooperation activities in the MENA region, focusing on improving maritime safety, security, and environmental sustainability. It will also serve as a hub for monitoring progress, facilitating dialogue, and developing tailored solutions to meet the region’s unique maritime needs.
His Excellency Kamel Al-Wazir, Vice Prime Minister for Industrial Development, said: « This success reflects the trust that IMO places in Egypt and strengthens its central role in the maritime transport sector regionally and internationally. It reaffirms Egypt’s leading role as a bridge of cooperation between the countries of the region, contributing to the development of the maritime sector and fostering integration among Arab nations. »
The MENA region is home to some of the world’s most important maritime trade routes, including the Suez Canal, which facilitates approximately 12% of global trade. This new office is expected to strengthen the region’s capacity to improve maritime governance and accelerate the transition to more environmentally friendly shipping practices.
Representatives from Member States in the region, as well as stakeholders from the industry and academia, participated in the launch event. IMO and Egypt reaffirmed their shared vision of a sustainable and safe maritime trade, a cornerstone of global prosperity.
IMO Regional Presence
The MENA Regional Presence Office is part of a global network, which includes the Abidjan (Ivory Coast) office for West and Central Africa (Francophone), Accra (Ghana) for West and Central Africa (Anglophone), Nairobi (Kenya) for East and Southern Africa, Manila (Philippines) for East Asia, and Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) for the Caribbean. IMO is also in the process of opening a Regional Presence Office in Fiji for the Pacific region.
For more information about the IMO Regional Presence Office in the MENA region, please contact the Director, TCID, IMO Secretariat (tcid@imo.org).
Source: imo
