The International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) has announced the new ICOMIA Asia Working Group (IAWG). A key aim for the new group is to ‘achieve traction on common issues relating to regional cooperation, such as border agreements and customs, immigration, and quarantine procedures (CIQP)’.
Previous efforts to unite national boating associations in the region include the Asia Boating Dialogue, which was last held in 2020 as a two-part webinar series and led by the Singapore Boating Industry Association (SBIA) and Hong Kong Boating Industry Association (HKBIA), with the support of ICOMIA.
The mission of the IAWG includes providing international leadership and guidance on issues concerning the development of the leisure marine industry through discussion, research and networking.
Lawrence Chow, Chair of ICOMIA Asia Working Group, said: “The formation of the IAWG marks the strong potential of growth for the boating industry in Asia. ICOMIA Members will now have access to key insights and developments in Asia. In parallel, the IAWG would be an ideal platform to spread the experience gathered from the various ICOMIA committees to emerging markets in Asia, inspiring different markets to set up their own marine industry associations in the future.”
The IAWG is currently working on the following projects:
Current IAWG members include HKBIA, SBIA, Japan Marine Industry Association, Hainan Marine Trade Exchange Service Centre (HNMTES), Korea International Boat Show, Boat Building Technology Improvement Institute in Sri Lanka, Taiwan Yacht Industry Association and Thai Yachting Business Association. All ICOMIA members with an interest in Asia are welcome to join.