The Ocean Governance: The Implementation of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement and Sustainable Development training has become an important platform for Universiti Kuala Lumpur (UniKL) to highlight issues of governance and sustainable development in the ocean and maritime sectors.
Assoc. Prof. Dr Azman Ismail, representing Universiti Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Institute of Marine Engineering Technology (UniKL MIMET), is participating in the 11-day training programme taking place from 16 to 26 September in Tianjin, China.
According to him, the initiative is expected to enhance knowledge and foster future collaboration in the field of ocean governance and sustainable development, aligning with UniKL’s maritime expertise and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
It presents an opportunity to represent Malaysia in sustainability efforts related to deep-sea exploration and the good governance of marine resources.
He said the organisers provided full sponsorship, covering the training, accommodation, and return flights.
Appreciation is also extended to UniKL for its support in facilitating participation in this program, he further noted.
The training introduces critical challenges and opportunities in effectively implementing the BBNJ Agreement, while sharing experiences in ocean governance from China and the Southeast Asian region.
Its objective is to enhance the capacity of current and future ocean leaders to contribute meaningfully to the operationalisation of the BBNJ Agreement, ensuring the long-term health and sustainable governance of the global ocean commons.
The programme brought together 17 participants from Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Egypt.
It was organised by the International Ocean Institute (IOI)–China Regional Centre for the Western Pacific Region, and co-organised by the National Marine Data and Information Service (NMDIS), an agency under the Ministry of Natural Resources of the People’s Republic of China.
In 2010, the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) of China and the IOI signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the IOI–China Regional Centre for the Western Pacific Region.
Based at the NMDIS, the centre is tasked with conducting research, training, and other activities as agreed annually by the MNR and IOI.
These activities are designed to be interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral, covering lectures, group discussions, field trips, and course reports.
