By By: Staff Writer
Shanghai, China – Liberia has taken another bold stride in advancing its maritime sector through a strategic partnership with Shanghai Maritime University (SMU). The agreement, forged on the sidelines of the prestigious North Bund Forum in Shanghai, aims to deepen educational, technical, and professional collaboration between Liberia and China.
Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA) Commissioner and CEO, Cllr. Neto Zarzar Lighe, Sr., led the Liberian delegation in a high-level meeting with SMU officials, including Council Chairman Song Baoru, University President Chu Beiping, and Vice President Yin Ming. The discussions focused on expanding academic opportunities, professional training, and technology-driven initiatives to strengthen Liberia’s maritime workforce.
At the core of the dialogue was the establishment of scholarship programs for young Liberians to pursue degrees in specialized fields such as Nautical Science, Marine Engineering, Port and Shipping Management, and Maritime Law and Policy. Both parties agreed to design a transparent selection and sponsorship framework that promotes merit-based access and gender balance.
In a move to enhance industry expertise, SMU pledged to offer short-term courses, technical workshops, and internship programs for professionals from LiMA and the Liberia Maritime Training Institute (LMTI). These programs will focus on upgrading skills in line with modern maritime standards and international best practices.
The two institutions also agreed to pursue a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to anchor their cooperation in technology and knowledge exchange. This will cover curriculum development, faculty and student exchanges, research collaboration, and access to e-learning tools. SMU further committed to providing technical assistance to modernize LMTI’s training facilities to meet International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements.
To accelerate implementation, both sides will establish a joint working group to finalize details ahead of the official MoU signing in December 2025.
This groundbreaking partnership is expected to propel Liberia’s maritime education and capacity development, positioning the nation as a key player in the global maritime community and strengthening the bonds of cooperation between Liberia and China.
