The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has signed a partnership agreement with the Commonwealth Secretariat to strengthen the maritime and port sectors in selected developing countries.
The new partnership will promote sustainable maritime transport through joint activities which aims to promote and facilitate the adoption of sustainable maritime transport systems and practices.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on 29 September.
Commonwealth countries who are Member States of IMO will benefit from joint capacity-building activities between the two intergovernmental organisations.
Under the agreement, IMO and the Commonwealth Secretariat intend to work together to support:
- knowledge sharing;
- intergovernmental cooperation;
- capacity-building; and
- joint resource mobilisation.
Specific activities will be developed to address:
- marine environment protection and climate change;
- maritime safety;
- maritime security;
- maritime legislation; and
- maritime transport facilitation in support of global and regional trade flows.
“IMO is pleased to partner with the Commonwealth Secretariat to boost sustainable maritime transport,” said IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim.
“The maritime sector binds us all together and this agreement will help us target countries with additional support to ensure that shipping is greener and more resilient, supporting employment and driving forward the blue economy across nations.”
READ: Kenya and Eswatini champion Commonwealth action on clean energy
“Our ocean drives economic activity, connecting us all and carrying 80 per cent of global trade, by volume, through maritime transport,” said Commonwealth Secretary-General, Patricia Scotland.
“The provision of safe, secure shipping on cleaner seas has never been of greater importance than it is now. The Commonwealth covers more than a third of the ocean under national jurisdiction, so we are excited to join hands with the IMO to advance the prospects for a sustainable global blue economy.”
