Singapore to train more aviation and maritime officials from abroad

Programmes are among efforts to cement Republic's position as hub for these sectors

- Vanessa Paige Chelvan

More aviation and maritime officials from around the world will be trained in Singapore, as the Republic launches and develops new training programmes in these two sectors.

The programmes support the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and International Maritime Organisation (IMO), which Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said are examples of multilateral institutions that are "pillars of a rules-based international order".

They are also among efforts to cement Singapore's position as an aviation and maritime hub.

The training programmes include one for transport officials from the Small Island Developing States (Sids), comprising states in the Caribbean and Pacific islands, among others.

The programme will focus on the unique challenges that small island states, like Singapore, face in the aviation and maritime industries, Mr Siow said at the opening of the Global Aviation and Maritime Symposium.

The first training programme for Sids will be in 2026, for officials from the Caribbean island states. Courses for the Pacific island states and others are in the pipeline.

Mr Siow also said Singapore will work with ICAO and IMO on a new global initiative to develop and deliver specialised training programmes for officials and practitioners across both the aviation and maritime sectors.

The collaboration recognises "increasing interdependencies between the aviation and maritime sectors, and the common challenges they face", he said.

Mr Siow also announced the extension of the Singapore-ICAO Developing Countries Training Programme, funding 330 fellowships and 10 scholarships valued at US$1.8 million (S$2.3 million) over the next three years. This is aimed at supporting officials from developing ICAO member states in attending aviation-related courses.