Manila: The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) on Wednesday hosted a Belgian delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H.E. Maxime Pr©vot for high-level discussions aimed at strengthening bilateral maritime cooperation. This visit marks an important milestone, being the first by a Belgian foreign minister since 1993, highlighting the growing partnership between the Philippines and Belgium, particularly in areas of green shipping, seafarer development, digital transformation, and maritime investments.
According to Philippines News Agency, MARINA Administrator Sonia Malaluan emphasized the significance of Pr©vot's visit as it "underscores the growing momentum in Philippines-Belgium relations and reflects both countries' shared commitment to fostering a modern, sustainable, and globally competitive maritime industry." The Belgian delegation was given a tour of the International Food Services (IFS) Maritime Catering Training Centre, which exemplifies Belgium's efforts in enhancing the skills of Filipino seafarers.
During the visit, MARINA showcased its digital initiatives, notably the MARINA Integrated Seafarers Management Online System and the MARINA Blockchain-Enabled Automated Certification System. Discussions also focused on workforce development in line with the International Maritime Organization's 2023 Greenhouse Gas Strategy and explored potential collaborations in shipbuilding, ship repair, and ship recycling in the Philippines.
The meeting further addressed the European Union-Association of Southeast Asian Nations Sustainable Connectivity Package (EU-SCOPE) for seafarers project. This initiative supports the Philippines in bolstering its implementation of the Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Convention and the Maritime Labour Convention, 2006. Joining Malaluan and Pr©vot in these discussions were Belgian Ambassador Vladislava Iordanova, EU-SCOPE project implementation leader Andreas Nordseth, and leaders from Philippine Transmarine Carriers and the Philippine Center for Advanced Maritime Simulation and Training Inc.
