The International Maritime Organization has launched its Regional Presence Office (RPO) for the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region during a ceremony held in the historic maritime city of Alexandria, Egypt.
IMO Secretary-General, Arsenio Dominguez, and Egypt’s Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development, Lieutenant General Kamel Al-Wazir, and other high-level dignitaries, including representatives from member states in the region, industry stakeholders, and academia attended the event.
IMO Secretary-General Dominguez said the opening of the office was a testament to the organisation’s commitment to bring its services closer to regions.
“This office will serve as a bridge, addressing regional maritime challenges by fostering collaboration, and ensuring that the voices and needs of Mena countries are effectively represented on the global stage.”
The regional office will play a central role in implementing IMO’s technical cooperation activities, focusing on enhancing maritime safety, security, and environmental sustainability. It will also act as a hub for monitoring progress, facilitating dialogue, and delivering solutions to address the region’s maritime needs.
Al-Wazir said the move reflected the trust the IMO placed in Egypt, enhancing the country’s pivotal position in the maritime sector, both regionally and internationally.
“It reaffirms its leading role as a bridge for cooperation among 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 critical 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 enhance maritime governance and accelerate the transition to greener shipping practices.
The IMO and Egypt reaffirmed their shared vision of sustainable and secure maritime trade as a cornerstone of global prosperity.
The Mena regional presence office is part of a global network that includes existing offices in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire, for West and Central Africa (Francophone); Accra, Ghana, for West and Central Africa (Anglophone); Nairobi, Kenya, for Eastern and Southern Africa; Manila, the Philippines, for East Asia; and Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago for the Caribbean.
IMO is currently in the process of opening an RPO in Fiji for the Pacific region.
