Determined to meet challenges in the maritime society
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Maritime industry is essential to make people’s lives affluent and develop global economy. Shipping carries more than ninety percent of cargoes such as foods, energy resources, minerals and commodities. Since the international shipping industry is a global industry, it should be regulated by internationally developed global standards adopted at the competent international organization. IMO has been playing a key role for more than a half century since its inception in adopting global standards in order to ensure safe and environmentally friendly maritime transportation.
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The world is confronted with new and serious issues such as piracy, terrorism and the global warming. The fields of IMO activities are expanding because IMO has to cope with not only traditional safety and environmental issues but also with those emerging complex and difficult socio-economic issues. At present, IMO has important agenda covering control of greenhouse gas emissions from ships, suppression of piracy, continuous provision of quality seafarers, institutionalization of the IMO Member States Audit Scheme and the Goal Based Standards for ship construction. I will exercise strong leadership to tackle with these challenging issues together with Member Governments.
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With the globalization accelerating and emerging countries developing rapidly, it is expected that developing countries, with increased contributions to the shipping industry, will play a more significant role in the maritime society and the needs of IMO Members will become more diversified.
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Moreover, in order to further enhance the rule-making mechanism and the Technical Cooperation, activities of IMO should be properly recognized and supported by the wider international community. In order to increase the proper recognition, by not only maritime society but also by the wider international community, on the importance of international shipping for the world economy and the contribution by the shipping to the international community in aiming at achieving the Millennium Development Goals, I would like to play a positive role.
1. Consultation with Member Governments and stakeholders
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Views and opinions of Member Governments must be reflected in the management of the Secretariat through enhancing dialogues and consultations with Member Governments. In this context, I will make serious effort to increase opportunities for consultations between the Secretary-General and Member Governments. In addition, I will strengthen process of information exchange between IMO and stakeholders so that IMO can comprehend properly the needs of international shipping and reflect those needs in IMO activities.
2. Enhancement of Technical Co-operation, Capacity Building and Implementation of IMO Conventions
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The Technical Co-operation programmes of IMO need to be further enhanced and promoted. Real needs of developing countries for the Technical Co-operation must be properly recognized and be reflected in the support programmes. In order to achieve this objective, I will review the current activities of the Technical Co-operation, placing greater emphasis on the implementation of IMO Conventions, utilizing the accumulated experiences obtained through the application of the IMO Member State Audit Scheme. In addition, I will put my utmost efforts to strengthen and sustain the financial basis of the World Maritime University.
3. Review and Reform of the Secretariat
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For sound development of international shipping and stable supply of shipping services, we must continue essential legislative activities and deploy further resources to the Technical Co-operation and implementation programmes to deal with emerging needs. However, we cannot expect continuous increase of the budget as has been the case of the past under the current situation of the world economy. In order to meet future challenges, I will conduct major review over all aspects of activities of the Secretariat and carry out necessary reforms including rationalization and resource redeployment in consultation with Council members. Also, I will make efforts to develop a new mechanism which enables better planning and management of work programmes based on prioritization and efficient and stable distribution of meeting support resources.
