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The Deputy
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has praised the Malaysian
Shipowners Association (MASA) for its initiative to put Malaysia on the
global maritime map by organizing the 2nd Asia Maritime & Logistics
Conference.
"The government welcomes the initiatives taken by the Malaysian Shipowners
Association to put together a major event for the wider benefit of the
practitioners in the global maritime industry," said the Deputy Premier.
Datuk Seri Abdullah, who officiates the conference in Kuala Lumpur today
said the conference offered practitioners in the industry an ideal platform
for discussion and exchange of views.
"With several leading maritime organizations and companies invited to
address the participants, I am sure there will be considerable opportunity
for the attendees to evaluate the impact of current trends in the most
comprehensive manner," he said in a message in the souvenir programme issued
in conjunction with the conference.
"The maritime transportation services sector is crucial to the international
commercial activity, given that it carries more than 90 per cent of the
global trade. It is therefore important for all industry players to keep
abreast of the latest developments relating to security, safety and
standards," added the Deputy Prime Minister.
A total of 21 presentations will be made at the two-day conference that will
be attended by nearly 500 participants from about 30 countries.
A highlight of the conference is the industry panel chaired by the chairman
of MASA, Datuk Hj Mohd Ali Hj Yasin that will discuss issues on how to
balance contemporary threats and needs.
The panel comprises the executive vice president of the Beijing-based China
Ocean Shipping Group, Gao Weiji, the president of Paris-based Bureau Veritas,
Frank Piedelivierve, director of London-based Drewry Shipping Consultants
Ltd, Neil Davidson and J Bajpai from the World Bank. |
