The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has updated its technical cooperation activities and regional collaboration opportunities during the 51st meeting of the ASEAN Maritime Transport Working Group (MTWG), held from October 20 to 21, 2026, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The aim of these efforts is to promote safer, greener, and more inclusive maritime transport across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN's Role in Global Trade
ASEAN consists of 11 member countries: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam. This union plays a vital role in global trade and sustainable growth, particularly in the areas of maritime transport, shipbuilding, logistics, and maritime workforce. The IMO participates as a dialogue partner in MTWG meetings and supports regional maritime programs.
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IMO Technical Cooperation Framework
During this meeting, the IMO introduced its advancements under the technical cooperation framework for the years 2026 to 2027 and identified areas of alignment with the ASEAN Transport Sector Program (ATSP) 2026 to 2030. The organization outlined its approach to technical cooperation and emphasized the necessity of requests and needs assessments from member countries. The IMO also urged ASEAN maritime administrations to use the IMO technical cooperation portal for submitting requests and monitoring ongoing activities.
The IMO delegation included Ms. Jean Verpeaux, Head of the Asia and Pacific Division, who attended online, Ms. Johanna Diwa Akalar, Regional Coordinator for East Asia, and Messrs. Astrid Disper, Jimmy Jones, and Nadine Brasman from the GreenVoyage2050 program team.
ASEAN member countries expressed appreciation for IMO's technical assistance and welcomed the appointment of Ms. Akalar as the new regional coordinator. The IMO's regional presence office in East Asia plays a crucial role in bridging the global priorities of the organization with regional and national needs.
IMO also officially launched the new Blue Solutions project, which will help reduce pollutants from ships, ports, and transport in ASEAN and advance the transition to greener maritime transport in the region in collaboration with PEMSEA.
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