IMO Chief commends Dubai's progress in the maritime industry

Mitropoulos visited Dubai to head the international panel for the Dubai International Maritime Awards, held at the Grand Hyatt Dubai.

His visit included a tour of Dubai and a meeting with officials of Dubai Maritime City in an effort to further build on relations with the IMO and showcase Dubai's tremendous potential.

Welcoming the Secretary General to Dubai, Project Manager of Dubai Maritime City, Amer Ali said: "It's a great honour to welcome the IMO Secretary General to witness the realisation of Dubai's vision through our groundbreaking new development. At Dubai Maritime City, we are keen to demonstrate the creativity of the Middle East as we showcase the treasures of Dubai, which generate so much attention the world over."

Mr Mitropoulos's priority as Secretary-General is to pursue the IMO mission concerning maritime safety and security, and he stated that he was encouraged by Dubai's efforts to create an international maritime hub and its desire for compliance with the International Maritime standards. He acknowledged that key initiatives like the Dubai International Maritime Awards are vital in maintaining standards within the industry and creating new benchmarks.