Egypt, Panama mull cooperation in maritime transport sector

CAIRO - 25 December 2017: Transport Minister Hisham Arafat discussed on Monday with Ambassador of Panama in Cairo Tomas A. Guardia means of boosting cooperation in the field of maritime transport.

The meeting touched on the Panamanian suggestion pertaining to a draft joint cooperation agreement in the maritime transport sector which entails the mutual recognition of training courses and certificates in accordance with regulation 1/10 of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), read a statement released by the Transport Ministry.

Both sides also tackled the possibility of cooperating in the fields of vessel registration, development and management of ports, training and establishment of logistic centers.

The Panamanian ambassador reviewed licensing procedures and measures of flying the Panamanian flag on ships, affirming that as many as 6,000 vessels raising the Panamanian flag contribute to boosting the global trade flow.

Arafat referred to the necessity of making use of the Panamanian expertise in the domain of the registration of ships.

He noted that there is a strategic plan to develop the Egyptian maritime transport system and ports.

Also, he invited the Panamanian ambassador to visit Alexandria port to get acquainted with the development activities taking place there.