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The International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the Norwegian Development Cooperation Agency (Norad) have signed a framework Co-operation Agreement, under which Norad will provide contributions to the Organization's Integrated Technical Co-operation Programme.

A sum of some US$3 million will be made available under the agreement, to be drawn down on a project-by-project basis over a three-year period.

The selected projects will concentrate on activities related to the protection of the marine environment, focusing on development cooperation to enhance the capacities of developing countries to implement and enforce related IMO standards.

The agreement was signed during the 105th meeting of the IMO Council, taking place at the Organization's London Headquarters this week (1 to 5 November 2010).

IMO Secretary-General Efthimios E. Mitropoulos expressed the thanks of the entire Organization to the Government of Norway and to Norad for their continued and increased support for IMO's technical assistance activities.