Women professionals from across Asia and the Pacific gathered in Seoul, Republic of Korea, for the SMART-C Women Conference (21 October) to advance women's empowerment in the maritime sector.
Held during the 2025 Korea Maritime Week (20–22 October), the Conference was jointly organized by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) of the Republic of Korea.
It focused on identifying policy gaps and developing strategies to overcome barriers to gender equality in the maritime domain. Participants included representatives from regional Women in Maritime Associations (WIMAs) such as PacWIMA, WIMA Asia and WIMA Korea, as well as international partners including WISTA International, and participants from the 1st and 2nd cohorts of the SMART-C Women Project Training.Opening the event, Ms. Azara Prempeh, Director of IMO's Administrative Division, stated: "Gender equality is not an aspiration – it is a necessity. Shipping moves more than 80 per cent of global trade. For this lifeline industry to thrive, it must draw on the talents and perspectives of all."
She encouraged participants to "commit to policies that enable women not only to participate in, but also to lead, the transformation of the maritime sector."
Delegates highlighted how the SMART-C Women Project's blended online and in-person training has provided practical tools to strengthen leadership and mentorship, and to integrate gender perspectives into maritime digitalization and decarbonization policies.
Participants representing seven beneficiary countries – Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Viet Nam – showcased national best practices for empowering women in the sector. The event concluded with a high-level panel on women's leadership and policymaking, reaffirmed IMO's commitment to UN Sustainable Development Goal 5 (Gender Equality).
Funded by the Republic of Korea, the IMO–ROK SMART-C Women Project supports gender equality through targeted training designed to help women advance their maritime careers.
