WorldStage Newsonline-- The leading regional shipping development institution in sub Saharan Africa, the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA) has thrown its weight behind the forthcoming 2nd Africa Shipping and Oil Roundtable, which will hold on 25th and 26 June, 2012 in Accra, Ghana.
The Africa Shipping and Oil Roundtable series is a capacity building programme for leading industry stakeholders in shipping, port, logistics, oil and gas, trade and finance. It's aim is to serve as a platform where government functionaries, operators and practitioners can reflect and proffer solutions that would ensure significant increase in the market share of indigenous companies involved in maritime, oil and gas related businesses.
Chairperson of the Organising Committee, Mrs Remilekun Rasaq, said the roundtable provides excellent match making opportunities, as participants are able to discuss market trends, review projects and investment decisions. It is the ideal environment for operators to gain insights into policy issues and access decision makers in government and leading private sector companies.
Conveying the organisation’s endorsement and support, MOWCA’s Secretary General, Mr. Alain Michel Luvambano, described the event as a commendable initiative and expressed the hope that it would constitute a milestone in the development of the maritime economy and wealth creation in our sub region.
He declared: “Given that the meeting is in line with the objectives of MOWCA, the organisation will provide the necessary support for the participation of member States and relevant maritime public and private institutions interested in shipping matters and oil and gas production.”
“MOWCA established in May 1975, promotes the maritime interests of the twenty-five countries on the West and Central Africa shipping range, comprising twenty littoral member States and five landlocked member States.
The association co-ordinates all regional efforts on safety, security and protection of the marine environment. The organisation’s specialised affiliates are the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA), Union of African Shippers Councils (UASC) and the Association of Africa Shipping Lines.
Some of the speakers at the 2nd Africa Shipping and Oil Roundtable include Nigeria’s Transport Minister - Senator Umar Idris; Secretary General of the West and Central Africa Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control (Abuja MoU) – Mrs Mfon Ekong Usoro; Chairman Legal Committee of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Shippers Authority – Mr Kofi Mbiah; Chief Executive Officer of South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA) – Commander Tsietsi Mokhele; and Executive Secretary of Nigerian Shippers Council – Capt Adamu Biu.
According to Rasaq, this year’s edition of the roundtable with the theme “Sustainable Local Content Development in Africa’s Shipping and Oil Industry” will be attended by delegates from all African oil producing countries. It would be chaired by Alhaji (Dr) Asoma Abu Banda, Chairman of ANTRAK Group and Member of Ghana’s Council of State.
