New shipping agents body formed

The newly-formed Malaysian Shipping Agencies Association (FOMSA) has pledged to serve the cause of shipping agents throughout the country in a more effective manner.
 
Declaring his commitment at its inaugural meeting in Port Klang recently, its president, V Muthiah said he was happy to note that the formation had received wide support and endorsement from sister associations from other ports. 
 
Aside from Port Klang Shipping Agents Association, other similar shipping agent's association in Penang, Kuantan, and Johor have endorsed the formation of FOMSA. 
 
"Despite the initial reluctance of the shipping agents bodies in Sabah and Sarawak to join the FOMSA, we are confident the associations in the two states will eventually joint the national body", said Muthiah..
 
He said the respective associations in each port regions have served their purpose well. 
 
"But under the changing circumstances where we are beginning to face problems and issues that are common to us, there is certainly a need to look at a common platform to discuss and respond collectively. This is where the FOMSA will play its role by drawing better strength and serve a more useful purpose with single voice," he noted.
 
"A national body for shipping agents would be able to harness the strengths in all of us and carry out far more projects and offer more benefits to members than it would be possible under the present parochial structure. An important aspect of this is perhaps, training - we could focus better in carrying out suitable training courses or modules in line with the growing demand for greater professionalism in the industry," he said.
 
"Needless to say, the emergence of a national body of shipping agents could seek to better represented and heard, including the regular dialogues with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of International Trade on issues and matters affecting national interest and national objectives," he said.