KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 — Malaysia will host the inaugural Asean Future of Maritime Conference this week, a high-level gathering aimed at charting a greener, safer, and more inclusive maritime future for Southeast Asia.
In a statement yesterday, the Australian Foreign Affairs and Trade Department said the event will bring together leading maritime stakeholders from across all 10 Asean members, including port authorities, marine departments, and private sector leaders.
Co-hosted by Malaysia’s Transport Ministry, the Asean Secretariat, and the Australian government, the conference will take place during Malaysia Maritime Week 2025 and reflects Malaysia’s priorities as Asean chair this year.
It noted that the conference is expected to bolster Asean’s ambitions to lead on sustainable maritime trade and connectivity, with public-private collaboration and innovation driving the transformation of the regional maritime landscape.
Key topics of discussion include maritime decarbonisation, safety standards, digitalisation, and building a just transition toward a more climate-resilient maritime sector.
According to organisers, the conference will serve as a critical platform for regional dialogue and partnership, fostering long-term technical cooperation, innovation, and investment in maritime capacity and resilience.
“The Asean Future of Maritime Conference reflects the strength of Australia’s Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I), which provides practical action on maritime decarbonisation.”
“By working closely with the Asean Secretariat and Asean member states, Australia is sharing lessons, building institutional linkages, and accelerating collective progress across Southeast Asia,” said Australia’s Ambassador to Asean Tiffany McDonald.
P4I is Australia’s flagship infrastructure initiative.
The conference, backed by P4I in collaboration with the Malaysia Shipowners’ Association, builds on ongoing technical cooperation between Australia and Malaysia.
Since 2022, P4I and Malaysia’s Transport Ministry have jointly developed a green bunkering regulatory roadmap, aiming to unlock investment in low-carbon fuels, establish zero-carbon shipping corridors, and create new regulatory frameworks for green fuel storage and handling.
Australia’s High Commissioner to Malaysia Danielle Heinecke said the partnership with Malaysia exemplifies regional collaboration on maritime sustainability.
“Australia’s partnership with Malaysia’s Ministry of Transport on the green bunkering regulatory roadmap is a prime example of how we can work together to enable the transition to alternative fuels and establish zero-carbon shipping corridors,” she said.
Australia is investing AU$64 million (RM200 million) over four years, including AU$40 million in new funding, under its Southeast Asia maritime partnerships initiative announced at the Asean-Australia Special Summit in 2024.
— Bernama
