Keeping key maritime trade routes safe is critical to ensuring economic development and prosperity of the Global South. The first steering committee of a programme to support safe navigation and security in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans has been held (19-20 January), with participation online and in-person.
The meeting provided participants with assistance to strenghten their strategic directions. The steering committee agreed on monitoring tools to assess the overall performance of the programme including the financial side, communications and reporting methods. The event also looked at a range of issues including port security legislation, data exchange system on cargo and passengers and response capacities of law enforcement agencies in the region.
The Programme on Port Security and Safety of Navigation in the Eastern and Southern Africa and the Indian Ocean region is sponsored by the European Union, under the overall strategic direction of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC). The project is being implemented by IMO, jointly with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Officials from nine beneficiary countries* attended the meeting, along with representatives from international organizations and the implementing partners: IMO, INTERPOL and UNODC.
*Angola, Comoros, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles and United Republic of Tanzania.
