Commonwealth Secretariat extends support to ‘CIMC 2015’
7 September 2015 03:16 am
The Commonwealth Secretariat, where President Maithripala Sirisena is the current chair, has extended its support to the Colombo International Maritime Conference (CIMC), which will be inaugurated in Colombo on September 24, on the World Maritime Day, where the government of Sri Lanka has declared a Maritime Week from September 21 to 27 for the very first time.
Ports and Shipping Minister Arjuna Ranatunga initiated and extended the invitation to the Commonwealth to be part of the CIMC. Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe is expected to inaugurate CIMC 2015.
The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 53 independent and equal sovereign states. It is home to 2.2 billion citizens, of which over 60 percent are under the age of 30. The Commonwealth includes some of the world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries, spanning five regions. Thirty-one of its members are small states, many of them island nations.
The Commonwealth Secretariat provides guidance on policymaking, technical assistance and advisory services to Commonwealth member countries. It supports governments to help achieve sustainable, inclusive and equitable development. Commonwealth promotes democracy, rule of law, human rights, good governance and social and economic development. It is a voice for small states and a champion for youth empowerment.
Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma has also agreed to support the Colombo International Maritime Conference with technical assistance and will be sending speakers from London to address the gathering, including a presentation on the Caribbean experience, in Jamaica of setting up of a maritime hub.
The CIMC will be attended by nearly 30 international speakers, from leading shipping companies, UNCTAD, Global Shippers Forum, Port experts, Federal Maritime Commission of USA, Journal of Commerce, Drewry Shipping, China Merchant Holdings, etc.
The conference will begin in Colombo on September 24 at Galadari Hotel. Details of the Colombo International Maritime Conference can be found on www.cimc2015.com or on hotline 0773820703 for local registration.