Transport Minister Kamel el Wazir led Egypt’s delegation to the third day of the 31st session of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Assembly which is taking place at IMO Headquarters in London on 25 November-4 December 2019.

A press release by the Transport Ministry Thursday said, the minister asserted in statements he gave on the sidelines of the international event that Cairo is seeking to earn the membership of the IMO Council given the importance of this position for Egypt whose geographical location in the heart of the world and its Suez Canal make it play a vital role in serving global seaborne trade.

The IMO Assembly, the Organization's highest governing body, meets every two years. It is responsible for approving the Organization's work programme and budget for the next two years and electing the 40-Member Council as well as considering substantive issues emanating from the Organization's Council and five Committees. The Assembly is expected to confirm the appointment of IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim for a second four-year term in office.

According to the press release, Wazir met with representatives of more than ten companies belonging to the Society of Maritime Industries (SMI) which is the voice of the UK’s maritime engineering and business sector promoting and supporting companies which design, build, refit and modernise ships, and supply equipment and services for all types of commercial and naval ships, ports and terminals infrastructure, offshore oil and gas, maritime security and safety, marine science and technology, maritime autonomous systems and marine renewable energy.

Talks between the two sides covered investment prospects in the maritime transport industry in Egypt and potential bilateral cooperation in this vital sector.

He reviewed the Transport Ministry’s strategy to develop the entire maritime transport sector in Egypt through upgrading maritime ports, merchant fleets, services and operation mechanisms, as well as revamping the country’s network of roads and railways and qualifying human cadres.