IMO Secretary-General: Georgia plays vital role in developing Middle Corridor as a strategic bridge between East and West
“It is an immense honour for me to return to Georgia and participate in this international maritime forum. Georgia is not merely a maritime nation; it is a country that places paramount importance on the human element, particularly regarding its seafarers,” stated Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Arsenio Dominguez during his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the Georgia International Maritime Forum (GIMF 2026) in Batumi.
The IMO Secretary-General noted that Georgia has been an active member of the International Maritime Organisation since 1993, consistently contributing to its work. He placed special emphasis on Georgia’s critical role in advancing the Middle Corridor.
“We saw in the presentation that a USD 7 billion investment is being injected into the nation’s ports and infrastructure. The fact that cargo throughput has expanded by more than 20% this year alone, despite global headwinds, underscores the vital importance of connectivity in multimodal transport across Georgia and the wider region, where shipping is paramount. Equally crucial is Georgia’s active involvement in driving the Middle Corridor and building this essential bridge between East and West,” the IMO Secretary-General declared.
During his address, Arsenio Dominguez also touched upon key global trends, maritime governance issues, and systemic challenges facing the international shipping industry, with a particular focus on the geopolitical landscape across various regions.
“Over the next few years, the sector will face a deficit of 40,000 qualified seafarers. In this regard, Georgia’s contribution will grow, supplying 20,000 seafarers to the global maritime fleet. I want to express my gratitude to Georgia once again. Marking ten years since this forum’s inception, you have shared invaluable experience on how you engage young, talented people in the seafaring profession each year, maintaining robust relationships not only with the International Maritime Organisation, but with all regional partners and beyond,” the IMO Secretary-General concluded.