IMO announces regional team to deepen on-the-ground impact

The International Maritime Organization has announced the full team of Regional Coordinators who will lead its seven Regional Presence Offices (RPOs), providing targeted technical support to Member States across the globe. 

Regional Presence Offices ensure that IMO support responds directly to the needs and priorities of countries in different regions, while aligning with wider strategic goals of the organization. This includes tailored support for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). 

The seven regions covered include: the Caribbean; East Asia; Eastern and Southern Africa; Middle East and North Africa; the Pacific; West and Central Africa (Anglophone); and West and Central Africa (Francophone).

As part of a major update to IMO’s approach to technical cooperation, Regional Coordinators will now oversee and coordinate IMO activities in their respective regions, across 11 thematic areas ranging from marine environment and ocean governance to maritime safety and security. 

IMO Secretary-General Mr. Arsenio Dominguez welcomed the team, stating: “Regional Presence Offices are no longer simply outposts of the Organization; they are the face of IMO in the field and the bridge between our global priorities and the realities of our Member States.”