BIMCO's team in Asia is the go-to point of contact for all members in the region, representing their interests, offering services and information, while maintaining a constructive dialogue with all the region's regulators.

 

"The most valuable feedback we receive from our Asian members is that BIMCO is close to them and cares about them", says Wei Zhuang, BIMCO Regional Manager for Asia.

 

The team is small, but very active. Wei Zhuang and Laura Wang, Product Manager Asia, are based in BIMCO's office in Shanghai, while the Singapore office is run by Maite Klarup, General Manager South East Asia.

 

Maite and Wei handle all of BIMCO's member enquiries in the region, which covers anything from how to join BIMCO and how to find BIMCO's calendar information on the website,to explaining its stance on particular industry issues, Wei and Maite may forward it to colleagues in BIMCO's head office in Copenhagen, where the different departments can supply the details needed.

 

Meanwhile, Laura is responsible for the market promotion and front-line support of BIMCO's contract editing system, IDEA,and the newly launched SmartCon, as well as BIMCO's other e-learning products in Asia, all of which are available to both members and non-members.

The Asia team works hard to promote BIMCO to potential members and provides regular BIMCO road shows, seminars and training programmes on the key issues affecting the industry and the organisation's members. The team also regularly speaks at regional industry conferences and is valued as highly informed keynote speakers or panel members.

 

Wei explains that being in the same location and being of the same culture supports the BIMCO Asia team's greater understanding and better communication with current and potential Asian members.

 

BIMCO has around 2,000 members in 120 countries, and now nearly 16%-made up of shipowners, agencies and associate members-are in Asia, a number that is growing each year.

 

BIMCO works with Asian members as they strive to become more united with a stronger voice at international shipping forums. It also supports them on specific regulatory issues such as the Sulphur Cap 2020, GHG, Piracy, Cyber Security, Documentary, security, while offering professional services and BIMCO's unrivalled industry expertise.

 

Looking ahead, Wei expects that BIMCO will become more influential and stronger in Asia as its membership grows, building on its strong reputation for supplying reliable, topical information and valued services, while supporting the business objectives of its members.