Maritime Cook Islands was honored to welcome His Excellency Mr. Arsenio Dominguez, Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), on his inaugural visit to the Cook Islands from the 11th – 12th August. The visit, a significant milestone since the Cook Islands joined the IMO in 2008, reinforced the mutual commitment to upholding global maritime standards and the IMO’s ongoing support for Pacific nations.

Mr. Dominguez’s visit was part of a regional tour that included the launch of a new IMO Regional Presence Office in Fiji. During his time on Rarotonga, he met with key government officials, including the Prime Minister, to discuss national priorities, projects, and opportunities for capacity building.

A highlight of the visit was a formal welcome dinner hosted by Maritime Cook Islands, which provided a valuable opportunity for high-level discussions with Cook Islands government officials and partner agencies. Maritime Cook Islands were also provided with the opportunity to meet with Mr. Dominguez to discuss matters of mutual interest. The visit concluded with a staff lunch, allowing the entire team to meet and connect with the Secretary-General.

Maritime Cook Islands extends its sincere gratitude to His Excellency Mr. Arsenio Dominguez for his time and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Immigration and the Ministry of Transport for their crucial support in making this visit a success.