Commonwealth Secretariat extends support for Colombo International Maritime Conference

The Commonwealth Secretariat, of which 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 24 September on World Maritime Day, where the Government of Sri Lanka has declared a Maritime Week from 21 to 27 September for the very first time. 

Minister Arjuna Ranatunga Minister of Ports and Shipping initiated and extended the invitation to the Commonwealth to be a part of the CIMC. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is expected to inaugurate the 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% 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 policy making, 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.     

Secretary General of the Commonwealth 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 24 September at the Galadari Hotel. Details of the Colombo International Maritime Conference can be found on www.cimc2015.com or on hotline 0773820703 for local registration.