IMO expands influence with new office in Fiji

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is set to establish its seventh Regional Presence Office in Suva, Fiji, marking a significant step towards bolstering maritime support across the Pacific Islands region. This move was solidified through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez and Fiji’s Minister for Public Works, Meteorological Services, and Transport, Honourable Ro Filipe Tuisawau, at the IMO Headquarters in London on March 18.

This strategic expansion into Fiji is aimed at closely aligning the IMO’s initiatives with the maritime needs and developmental policies of the Pacific Islands. The office is tasked with offering specialized advice on a wide array of maritime concerns including safety, security, legislative support, and environmental preservation. It also aims to play a pivotal role in implementing IMO’s technical cooperation framework at the field level, ensuring that maritime activities in the region adhere to global standards.

Honourable Tuisawau, representing Fiji, underscored the significance of the new office for the Pacific region. He highlighted its role in tackling pressing maritime challenges such as enhancing inter-island shipping services to ensure the safety of Pacific communities. The office will serve as a crucial support system for Pacific Member States, aiding them in meeting international regulations concerning ship standards, energy efficiency, and the maintenance of safety equipment in accordance with IMO standards. This development is expected to open up new opportunities for the youth in the maritime sector, including seafarer certification and broader employment prospects.

Secretary-General Dominguez expressed his enthusiasm for this expansion, recognizing it as an opportunity to strengthen IMO’s global presence and its collaborative efforts with the Pacific region. He extended gratitude to the host country, Fiji, and acknowledged the substantial financial and in-kind contributions from the governments of Australia, Papua New Guinea, and Solomon Islands, which were instrumental in realizing this partnership.

The establishment of the IMO’s new office in Suva will not only enhance maritime support and safety standards in the Pacific Islands but is also poised to significantly impact travel and tourism. By ensuring safer and more efficient maritime operations, the office will facilitate smoother travel routes within the Pacific region, thereby attracting more tourists and strengthening the region’s tourism industry. This strategic move underscores the IMO’s commitment to fostering a safer, greener, and more efficient maritime sector, contributing to the socio-economic development of the Pacific Islands.

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