The Director General of Border Guard, Vice Admiral Awwad Eid Al-Balawi, and the President of Naif Arab University for Security Sciences, and the Director of Bisha University, inaugurated the 9th International Training Course on Combating Insecurity in Maritime Domain on Sunday 3/7/1440H hosted by the Ministry of Interior represented in the General Directorate of Border Guard at Mohammed bin Naif Academy for Maritime Sciences and Security Studies in Jeddah in cooperation with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) at the Conference Hall of the Academy. 30 Trainees attend the course from 17 signatory states of Jeddah Amendments to the Code of Conduct 2017 that concerns with combating transnational organized crimes. In addition to Kingdom of Bahrain as a member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), India, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Cape Verde, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. This course aims at developing the knowledge of the participants, standardizing their concepts and enhancing their capabilities and skills in maritime domain. International experts and instructors from the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Interpol, as well as Saudi Border Guard will participate in the Course. The Course was opened by the Director General of Border Guard, Vice Admiral Awwad Eid Al Balawi, who welcomed the participants from the brotherly and friendly countries in their second country, Saudi Arabia, wishing them a pleasant stay and all success for this training course and to achieve all targeted objectives. The Director General of Border Guard also welcomed the President of Naif Arab University, the Director of Bisha University and the delegation accompanying them who visiting the Academy with the opening of the course. Al-Balawi added that this Course is held upon an honored approval of Prince Abdul-Aziz bin Saud bin Naif bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Interior, and is considered as a continuation of the unwavering approach of the Kingdom and its international and regional efforts aim at supporting the strategy and enhance safety and security of shipping and maritime transport. Vice Admiral Al-Balawi said that this Course will be the first of three events the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is organizing this year. It will be followed by a regional workshop on Best practices for maritime crime information sharing that will be held next April and TOT course on Managing combating insecurities in Maritime Domain during forthcoming June and July. Al-Balawi reiterated the persistent keenness to cooperate with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and actively participate in achieving security, peace and sustainable prosperity for all peoples. In conclusion, Al-Balawi expressed thanks to the Minister of Interior for his unwavering support to enhance these efforts. He also thanked the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Secretary General of the (IMO) for the continued cooperation. Mr. Kiruja Micheni, the Representative of the Secretary General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) expressed his sincere gratitude to the Government and the people of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their generosity. He thanked the Minister of Interior for his unwavering support to the regional states and thanked Director-General of Border Guard for his tireless efforts and dedication in promoting maritime security in the western Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. Mr Micheni said that IMO is committed to strengthen cooperation with the Kingdom to achieve the common goal. In his speech, the representative of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) highlighted the outstanding role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in developing maritime security by virtue of her strategic location between global waterways on major international shipping routes, the size and strength of her economy and good and influential relationship in the region. Mr. Micheni congratulated the Saudi Border Guard for establishing the state of art Jeddah Maritime Information Sharing Center. In conclusion, he thanked the Government of Saudi Arabia for the constant support of the International Maritime Organization (IMO). During the past 10 years, the Border Guard has hosted many international training courses, meetings, symposia and conferences. It has reached (8) international courses attended by more than 169 trainees from 21 countries, as well as four international conferences and symposia.
