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The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has announced the appointment of its Regional Coordinators, who will lead the seven Regional Presence Offices (RPOs) of the UN specialized agency. These offices operate in various regions of the world, including the Caribbean, East Asia, East and Southern Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, as well as the Pacific Islands and West and Central Africa (both anglophone and francophone). The Regional Presence Offices aim to ensure that the support of the World Maritime Organization is directly aligned with the needs and priorities of the member states while also being consistent with the strategic goals of the organization.
The Regional Coordinators will play a central role in the technical cooperation of the IMO by overseeing and coordinating the organization’s activities in their respective regions. This includes eleven thematic areas ranging from the maritime environment and ocean governance to maritime safety and security. According to the Secretary-General of the IMO, Arsenio Dominguez (4th from right), the Regional Presence Offices are no longer just branches of the organization but serve as a link between global priorities and the realities of the member states.
First meeting in London
The Regional Coordinators met for the first time from June 15 to 16 at the IMO headquarters in London to exchange experiences, strengthen their network, and discuss opportunities for regional engagement and capacity development. During the workshop, the implementation of thematic programs under the Technical Cooperation Program 2026–2027, as well as new digital tools such as the Technical Cooperation Portal and the Dashboard, were discussed. These tools are intended to improve transparency and responsiveness in delivering IMO support.
The seven Regional Coordinators bring extensive expertise and experience in their respective fields. They include (from left to right):
– Sitalingi Payne in Suva (Fiji) for the Pacific, specializing in maritime safety and technical cooperation.
– Eru Amem Takem in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) for West and Central Africa (francophone), coordinating maritime development initiatives.
– Vivian Rambarath Parasram in Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago) for the Caribbean, with over 25 years of experience in maritime law and environmental governance.
– Eng. Refaat Armanios in Alexandria (Egypt) for the Middle East and North Africa, working as a marine engineer.
– Captain Dave Muli in Nairobi (Kenya) for East and Southern Africa, serving as a captain and specialist in maritime transport.
– Johanna Diwa Acallar in Manila (Philippines) for East Asia, with over 20 years of experience in maritime development and ocean governance.
– Captain Dallas Eric Laryea in Accra (Ghana) for West and Central Africa (anglophone), with extensive experience in maritime education.
The Regional Coordinators will work closely with the thematic leaders and technical staff at the IMO headquarters to ensure regional accountability and coordination while taking global frameworks into account.
