Home
FacebookTwitterSearchMenu
  • Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • News
  • Features
  • Knowledge Library
  • Columns
  • Customs
  • Jobs
  • Directory
  • FX Rates
  • Categories
    • Categories
    • Africa
    • Air Freight
    • BEE
    • Border Beat
    • COVID-19
    • Customs
    • Domestic
    • Duty Calls
    • Economy
    • Employment
    • Energy/Fuel
    • Freight & Trading Weekly
    • Imports and Exports
    • Infrastructure
    • International
    • Logistics
    • Other
    • People
    • Road/Rail Freight
    • Sea Freight
    • Skills & Training
    • Social Development
    • Technology
    • Trade/Investment
    • Webinars
  • Contact us
    • Contact us
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Send us news
    • Editorial Guidelines
Logistics
Sea Freight

IMO opens new Mena regional office

24 Jan 2025 - by Staff reporter
0 Comments

Share

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • LinkedIn
  • E-mail
  • Print

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.

Sign up to our mailing list and get daily news headlines and weekly features directly to your inbox free.
Subscribe to receive print copies of Freight News Features to your door.

Feri certificate provider expands services westward

Logistics

Dornay Swartz, projects manager at Africa Union Cargo Namibia, says work in the DRC paved the company’s way in West Africa. 

06 May 2025
0 Comments

Proactive prevention is a win-win

Logistics

Siva Pather, managing director of Land and Sea Risk, says the real challenge extended far beyond the criminal incidents.

06 May 2025
0 Comments

Salvage tug sails to Maersk ship adrift in Atlantic

Sea Freight

The stricken vessel will be adrift for two weeks by the time salvage help arrives.

06 May 2025
0 Comments

Mozambique resumes road toll fees

Africa
Road/Rail Freight

The country has reduced rates nationwide with the exception of charges for commercial operators.

06 May 2025
0 Comments

Fuel prices set to drop

Economy
Road/Rail Freight

Global economic recession concerns and an oversupply of crude oil are placing pressure on prices.

06 May 2025
0 Comments

Driverless truck developer hits the highway

Road/Rail Freight
Technology

Aurora CE Chris Urmson said he travelled in the back seat during the inaugural journey.

06 May 2025
0 Comments

Weak SA economy, not Namibian imports, causes low meat prices

Economy
Imports and Exports

The challenge is that demand for the product has slowed, with almost 1.2m fewer carcasses sold locally in 2023 than in 2016.

06 May 2025
0 Comments

South Africa’s citrus export season gets under way

Imports and Exports

Growers forecast a rise in demand despite US tariff uncertainty and ongoing EU phytosanitary barriers.

05 May 2025
0 Comments

Thriving agri-sector pushes up tractor imports

Imports and Exports

No duties apply because we can't place import duties on equipment we don't produce. – Wandile Sihlobo.

05 May 2025
0 Comments

Carriers face capacity planning nightmare

Air Freight

The de minimis change is going to disrupt the market, and we’ll see its impact this month. – Xeneta.

05 May 2025
0 Comments

Australia launches world’s largest electric ship

Sea Freight
Technology

At 130 metres in length, Hull 096 is the largest electric vessel of its kind ever built.

05 May 2025
0 Comments

Naval drones cause havoc at Black Sea port

Logistics

The strike destroyed a Russian Su-30 fighter jet mid-air in a historic first for UAVs.

05 May 2025
0 Comments
  • More

FeatureClick to view

Namibia 23 May 2025

Border Beat

BMA steps in to help DG and FMCG cargo at Groblersbrug
21 May 2025
The N4 Maputo Corridor crossing – congestion, crime and potholes
12 May 2025
Fuel-crime curbing causes tanker build-up at Moz border
08 May 2025
More

Featured Jobs

Branch Manager (DBN)

Tiger Recruitment
Durban
22 May

General Manager

Switch Recruit
Centurion
22 May
More Jobs
  • © Now Media
  • Privacy Policy
  • Freight News RSS
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Send us news
  • Contact us